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29 March 2024

Airbus asks airlines to inspect A380 engines

Singapore Airlines resumes its A380 operations on Friday. (AFP)

Published
By Reuters

Planemaker Airbus is asking airlines that fly its A380 superjumbos to have any Rolls Royce engines inspected following the engine failure this week of an A380 operated by Qantas Airways.

A scare over a mid-flight engine fire on Thursday was the biggest incident to date for the world's largest passenger plane, which has been in service only since 2007. It forced Australia's Qantas to ground its fleet and prompted other airlines to recheck their A380s.

"Following the engine failure of Qantas A380 flight QF32 on 4th November 2010, Airbus has issued an All Operators Telex asking A380 operators with Rolls-Royce engines for power plants inspections to ensure continuous safe operations of the fleet", Airbus said on Friday.

Rolls-Royce has urged operators of the aircraft to perform safety checks on its Trent 900 engines.

Airbus, a subsidiary of EADS, added that airlines flying A380s powered by Engine Alliance, made by GE and Pratt & Whitney , were not affected.

Airbus said a team of its own specialists had arrived in Singapore, where the Qantas A380 was forced to make an emergency landing. It said it would provide full technical assistance to a French team of inspectors and Australian authorities leading the investigation.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce said on Friday that a faulty part or a design issue may have caused the engine failure on the A380.

The Australian airline has grounded its fleet of six A380s pending safety checks which will take 24 to 48 hours to complete.