Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s flagship airline, grounded 48 planes for inspection after an engine part failure on one of its Airbus A350 aircraft. This prompted the cancellation of several flights within Asia. The airline identified 15 aircraft that required component replacement and stated that long-haul flights would not be affected. The affected planes included the A350-1000 and A350-900, both powered by Rolls-Royce engines. Rolls-Royce is collaborating with the airline and authorities to investigate the issue, with components being replaced while engines remain in use. Airbus, the aircraft manufacturer, is also working closely with Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific during the investigation. Cathay Pacific expects all planes to be back in service by Saturday. Other airlines operating the A350-1000, such as Qatar Airways and British Airways, have not reported similar issues. Japan Airlines, which operates the aircraft, is conducting inspections as a precaution. There is uncertainty about whether other airlines are inspecting their planes. Notably, the aviation industry has been under scrutiny for safety concerns, with recent incidents involving Boeing’s 737 Max planes and allegations of the use of fake documents for titanium in Airbus and Boeing aircraft, though both companies assert the safety of their planes.
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