Cathay Pacific has issued a statement following an inflight return involving Cathay Pacific flight CX383 to Zurich earlier today.
“We identified an engine component failure in the A350 aircraft in question. Cathay Pacific has fully complied with all maintenance requirements of the engine manufacturer and stringent maintenance procedures are in place to ensure that our fleet is always operated safely. This component was the first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide.
“We immediately brought this issue to the attention of the aircraft and engine manufacturers as well as our regulators. As a precautionary measure, we also proactively initiated a fleet-wide inspection of our 48 A350 aircraft. This thorough inspection process is well underway and will be completed today. Thus far we have identified a number of the same engine components that need to be replaced, spare parts have been secured and repair work is underway,” the statement said.
“As a result, a number of aircraft will be out of service for several days while this process is being completed and Cathay Pacific’s operating schedules will be affected. We are committed to minimizing any disruption for our customers and will keep them informed with the latest updates, proactively providing alternative travel arrangements when necessary.
“Thus far we have had to cancel 24 return flights operating up until the end of tomorrow and all of the affected customers have been informed and provided with alternate travel arrangements. For any further cancellations, we will provide another update as early as possible tomorrow. Please refer to cathaypacific.com for the latest flight information,” the statement concluded.
“At Cathay, safety of our customers and our people guides every decision we make,” Cathay Director Engineering Keith Brown said.
“Each aircraft is undergoing a rigorous inspection. Upon completion, the aircraft cleared for operation will return to service, while those identified with technical issues will undergo further repair and maintenance work. Meanwhile, we are liaising with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department and the aircraft and engine manufacturers. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding,” he said.
