A failed engine component of an Airbus plane operated by Cathay Pacific Airways that grounded dozens of flights this month could have caused extensive damage and sparked a fire on surrounding parts, Hong Kong authorities concluded in a report.
The city’s Air Accident Investigation Authority urged the European aviation authority to demand that engine maker Rolls-Royce impose inspection requirements of such engine components.
The report detailed the results of a post-flight examination conducted after the engine of a Zurich-bound Cathay Pacific flight caught fire earlier this month, forcing the plane to return to Hong Kong following take-off.
The engine component failure led to the grounding of the flag carrier’s entire 48-strong fleet of Airbus A350 aircraft and the cancellation of nearly 100 flights.
According to the Air Accident Investigation Authority, a secondary fuel manifold hose connecting to a fuel spray nozzle had ruptured, leaving a discernible hole.
