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Regulatory Inspections for Rolls-Royce-Powered A350s
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE:RR) experienced a decline on Friday morning after European Union regulators mandated inspections of A350 aircraft, following an incident involving Cathay Pacific. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) announced on Thursday that inspections will be required for at least some Rolls-Royce-powered A350s. This directive comes in response to an incident on Monday, where a Cathay Pacific flight bound for Zurich was forced to return to Hong Kong shortly after takeoff due to an engine fire.
Details of the Cathay Pacific Incident
The incident led to the grounding of 48 A350 aircraft operated by Cathay Pacific. Subsequent inspections revealed defective engine fuel lines in 15 of these planes. EASA has implemented precautionary measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future, stating that a one-time fleet inspection will be required, potentially applying only to a portion of the A350 fleet.
Regulatory Response and Aircraft Safety
EASA also confirmed that an engine fire was indeed the cause of the Cathay Pacific incident. The fire was reportedly “promptly detected and extinguished,” according to the European regulator. This situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding engine safety and the need for rigorous inspections to ensure the continued reliability of the A350 fleet.
