A recent incident caused great concern in the aviation industry: a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 experienced an in-flight engine shutdown, resulting in an immediate return to Hong Kong airport.

The investigation so far has now revealed a serious problem with the fuel hoses of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine. The situation has not only affected Cathay Pacific, but has also alarmed other A350 operators worldwide.

The incident: An alarming problem

The incident occurred during the climb of a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 on flight CX 383 from Hong Kong to Zurich. The flight had to turn around after the right Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine failed during the climb. Shortly after landing, the source of the fault was identified: a defect in the fuel lines in the engine. This led to Cathay Pacific ordering a comprehensive inspection of its entire A350 fleet. The result was alarming: at least 15 of the fleet’s 48 A350 aircraft were found to require repairs.

Global reactions and uncertainties

The incident has attracted worldwide attention and caused unrest among operators of the Airbus A350 fleet. The Lufthansa Group has confirmed that it is in close contact with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to assess any potential impact on their fleet. Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines have also taken action by announcing a « precautionary review » of their A350-900 fleet.

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific are remaining tight-lipped about the exact causes of the problem. Little is known to the public about the specific defects found in the fuel hoses. However, industry insiders say flexible fuel hoses are being inspected for deformations, bulges and kinks, which could indicate potential quality or design issues.

Spare parts problems and flight operations restrictions

An additional challenge for the affected airlines is the availability of spare parts. According to a report by the news agency Bloomberg, the solution to the problem could be held back by limited availability of the required parts. This has led to Cathay Pacific cancelling several flights until Saturday, causing significant disruption to flight operations.

The problem could also affect other aircraft models. While Rolls-Royce currently only mentions the Trent XWB-97 engine type, it remains unclear whether the A350-900 models will also be equipped with the Trent. The uncertainty about the extent of the problem could lead other airlines to check their fleets as a precautionary measure.

Background and impact on the industry

The Airbus A350 is now available for maximum efficiency and high performance. In addition to Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Japan Airlines are among the major operators of the A350-1000 variant. A technical problem with such a widely used aircraft model therefore has potentially far-reaching implications for the entire industry.

For Airbus and Rolls-Royce, who worked together to develop the A350 and the Trent XWB engine, addressing this issue is a top priority. A rapid and comprehensive solution is crucial to maintaining airline and passenger confidence in the safety and reliability of the A350 fleet.

The current problems with Cathay Pacific’s A350 fleet highlight the challenges the aviation industry faces in maintaining and servicing state-of-the-art aircraft. The technical difficulties with the fuel hoses on the Rolls-Royce Trent While the airlines and manufacturers concerned are working to resolve the problem, it remains to be seen what further measures are required to ensure the safety and smooth operation of the A350 fleet.