Data from flight tracking service FlightRadar24 showed other major operators of the A350-1000 and the smaller, more popular A350-900, still flying their aircraft on Tuesday.

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Rolls-Royce has not yet issued a directive to airlines regarding possible inspections, according to an industry source who was not authorised to speak publicly about the matter.

Such a step is typically the first sign of an official instruction from regulators, though they can act independently.

Japan Airlines (JAL), which has five A350-1000s, said it had asked Rolls-Royce for more information and had not stopped A350 flights in the meantime.

“If the engine manufacturer takes any further action, we will respond accordingly,” a JAL spokesperson said.

Cathay Pacific said it had secured spare parts for the components that needed to be replaced. Rolls-Royce said the replacement could take place while the engine remained on-wing.

The engine manufacturer said it was committed to working closely with Cathay Pacific, Airbus and investigators in Hong Kong, whose safety agency confirmed it had launched a probe.

Cathay Pacific has not specified which engine component failed, but the carrier said it was the “first of its type to suffer such failure on any A350 aircraft worldwide”.

A person familiar with the matter said the incident involved a leak in a system designed to inject fuel to the engine.

The system comprises a pipe that feeds fuel from an entry point or manifold to a nozzle that sprays fuel into the combustion chamber, the hot inner core of the engine.

Sources said partially scorched parts were being analysed at Rolls-Royce facilities on behalf of Hong Kong investigators, but that no leaks had been found so far in other engines.

Experts say such problems are rare but, barring a deeper flaw, generally raise fewer alarms than the failure of one of the major rotating parts such as a turbine blade.

However, any widespread further inspections could be disruptive to airlines at a time when engine repair shops are already congested following increased wear on modern engines, especially those of Pratt & Whitney on smaller Airbus jets.

Airbus said it was offering “full technical support”.

‘Precautionary measure’

There are 86 A350-1000s in operation worldwide, compared with 526 A350-900s, according to Airbus data. Together, they compete with the Boeing 787 and 777 on long routes. Cathay operates a mixed Airbus and Boeing fleet.

Top A350-1000 operators include Qatar Airways with 24, British Airways which is owned by the International Airlines Group with 18, Cathay Pacific also with 18, Virgin Atlantic with 12 and Etihad Airways and JAL with five each.

Qatar Airways said its fleet of 24 A350-1000s was not affected and it continued to monitor developments.

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Although the part failure occurred on one of its 18 A350-1000 jets, Cathay Pacific said it was also inspecting its 30 smaller A350-900s as a “precautionary measure”.

It said it had “identified a number of the same engine components that need to be replaced”.

Malaysia’s national carrier, which also has A350-900s in its fleet, has consulted Airbus and is operating as normal, the country’s Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said.

Singapore Airlines said it was reviewing the engines on A350-900s but there was no impact on flights. It does not have any A350-1000s.

Cathay Pacific shares ended the day down 0.6 per cent.

Reuters

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