TAIPEI (TVBS News) — China Airlines (中國國航) canceled four flights Wednesday (Sept. 4) after Cathay Pacific (國泰航空) discovered an engine component malfunction on an Airbus A350-1000 en route to Zurich.
Singapore Airlines (新加坡航空) and All Nippon Airways (ANA, 全日空) also initiated checks on their active fleets, aiming to prevent similar issues. Both airlines have not canceled or delayed any flights while conducting checks.
Cathay Pacific initially identified a flaw in the fuel nozzle, which may have caused a brief fire due to fuel leakage. The airline has since grounded its A350 fleet for inspections, canceled dozens of flights, and confirmed that 15 aircraft need part replacements.
Reports indicated that the airline has since completed repairs on three A350s and expects all affected planes to return to service by Sept. 7.
The problematic part has been sent to Rolls-Royce for analysis to determine the exact cause of the failure. Globally, 86 A350-1000 and 526 A350-900 aircraft are operational, carrying passengers and cargo.
Qatar Airways (卡達航空), the largest A350 buyer, reported no flight cancellations, affirming that its 24 A350s remain unaffected. Japan Airlines (日本航空) continues to liaise with Rolls-Royce to ensure their aircraft's safety. Despite not having the troubled A350-1000 in its fleet, Singapore Airlines will inspect its A350-900s as a precaution.
As the aviation industry closely monitors these developments, airlines worldwide prioritize passenger safety and operational integrity. Further updates from Rolls-Royce's analysis could lead to industry-wide preventive measures.
