CATHAY PAC AIR: Strictly comply with EASA's emergency airworthiness directive and fully cooperate with the investigation
CATHAY PAC AIR experienced an engine fire incident on an Airbus A350 flying to Zurich, and has strictly followed the Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and fully cooperated with the investigation. Following the incident, CATHAY immediately notified relevant authorities and inspected all A350 aircraft to ensure safe operations. Preliminary reports indicate that a rupture in the secondary fuel manifold hose of engine No. 2 may have led to a more serious fire. CATHAY PAC AIR emphasizes that it will continue to cooperate with the investigation to ensure flight safety
According to the information obtained by Zhitong Finance APP, earlier this month, Cathay Pacific Airways (00293) had an Airbus A350 engine catch fire while flying to Zurich. Cathay Pacific stated that after the incident, they immediately reported to the aircraft and engine manufacturers, the civil aviation accident investigation agency, and the civil aviation authority. As a precaution, Cathay Pacific also promptly conducted inspections on all its A350 aircraft to ensure their safe operation. Cathay Pacific Airways has also strictly followed the emergency airworthiness directive mentioned in the preliminary report by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) from the civil aviation accident investigation agency. Cathay will continue to fully cooperate with the aircraft and engine manufacturers, the civil aviation accident investigation agency, and the civil aviation authority in their investigations.
It is understood that a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 had an engine fire while flying to Zurich earlier this month, requiring a return landing, with no injuries reported in this incident. In response to this event, Cathay Pacific Airways previously stated that this A350 engine component failure was the first of its kind globally. The engineering team thoroughly inspected all operational aircraft in the A350 fleet within 24 hours and found that 15 of them needed to have engine components replaced.
On September 19, the Hong Kong civil aviation accident investigation agency released a preliminary investigation report, indicating that if not detected and dealt with promptly, it could escalate into a more serious engine fire, causing extensive damage to the aircraft.
The preliminary report pointed out that the steel braided sheath of the secondary fuel manifold hose of engine No. 2 had ruptured, with multiple occurrences of fire and heat damage inside, and the pilots had once reported a MAYDAY emergency situation but later downgraded it.
The report further stated that the steel braided sheath of the secondary fuel manifold hose connecting to the No. 17 fuel nozzle in the engine that caught fire had ruptured, with a clear hole on the hose, multiple occurrences of fire and heat damage inside, possibly leading to fuel leakage from the hose. Combined with other factors such as oxygen and a heat source, this caused the fire to spread. If not detected and dealt with promptly, a more serious fire could have occurred, causing extensive damage to the aircraft.
Cathay Pacific Airways mentioned that they are aware of the preliminary report released by the AAIA. Cathay emphasized that after the incident, they not only reported to the aircraft and engine manufacturers and relevant agencies but also immediately inspected all their A350 aircraft to ensure their safe operation. Cathay has also strictly followed the emergency airworthiness directive mentioned in the AAIA preliminary report and will continue to fully cooperate with the relevant manufacturers, AAIA, and the civil aviation authority in their investigations