Engine Fire on Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 Linked to Fuel Leak, Investigators Reveal
An engine fire aboard a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 earlier this month was caused by a fuel leak, according to an investigation by Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA). The incident, which occurred in early September, prompted the airline to ground its A350 fleet following a turn-around flight due to an “engine component failure.”
The engine involved, a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97, suffered a malfunction shortly after departing from Hong Kong en route to Zurich. Pilots received a cockpit fire warning, shut down the affected engine, and deployed fire extinguishers. The aircraft, carrying 348 passengers and crew, made a safe emergency landing back in Hong Kong.
A preliminary report from the AAIA indicates that a broken fuel hose—among several damaged hoses—caused the fire. The protective cover of the fuel hose had ruptured, creating a “discernible hole” and leaving signs of soot and burn marks. The report highlights that other defective fuel hoses in the same engine could have led to a more severe fire if not promptly addressed.
The AAIA has recommended that the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) mandate new inspection protocols for the Trent XWB engines. In response, EASA has introduced inspections of fuel pipes and the removal of potentially compromised hoses. The agency also broadened its inspection requirements to include multiple variants of the Trent XWB engine after discovering that a specific cleaning process during engine refurbishment could degrade the fuel hoses.
Cathay Pacific has stated that it conducted a comprehensive fleet-wide inspection of its A350 aircraft and is fully compliant with EASA’s directives. The airline assured that it continues to collaborate closely with airframe and engine manufacturers as well as regulators to ensure safety.
The Airbus A350, which first entered service in 2016, is favored for its efficiency and low operating costs. The Trent XWB engine, developed by Rolls-Royce specifically for the A350, is central to the aircraft’s performance. Although the fire raised concerns about potential widespread issues affecting the global A350 fleet, it was soon determined that the problem was limited to the external fuel lines, not the engine’s internal components.
Rolls-Royce has committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and emphasized that the engine and aircraft systems effectively managed the incident. The company is also investing in improvements to its engine range, including the Trent XWB-97, in response to industry feedback.
The incident underscores the importance of rigorous safety inspections and timely responses to potential aviation hazards, ensuring continued confidence in the Airbus A350 and its Trent XWB engines.
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