The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has mandated inspections on the Airbus A350-1000 fleet, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines, as a precautionary measure following a serious incident concerning a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong earlier this week.
In an Emergency Airworthiness Directive, EASA mandated a phased one-off inspection of flexible fuel hose connections inside the engines to check for damage. The inspections need to take place over the next 3-30 days, depending on the individual engine history. In total, 86 A350-1000 aircraft are in service worldwide.
Airlines with Airbus A350-1000 in the fleet:
- Qatar Airways
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Virgin Atlantic
- Etihad Airwys
- Air Caraïbes
- French Bee
- Japan Airlines
On September 1, 2024, an A350-1000 aircraft, operated by Cathay Pacific on a flight from Hong Kong to Zurich, experienced an in-flight engine fire shortly after take-off. The fire was promptly detected and extinguished, and the aircraft returned safely to Hong Kong. The aircraft was powered by Trent XWB-97 engines.
This event was classified as serious incident, and an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex-13 investigation was opened by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) of Hong Kong.
Following an inspection by Cathay Pacific of its A350 fleet, the airline reported similar problems on other aircraft.
Cathay Pacific grounded its Airbus A350 fleet
Trent XWB-84 engines, installed on the A350-900, are similar but differ in design and service history. On the basis of the available information, an extension of the measures to these engines is not warranted at this stage.
