The images and videos of the United Airlines flight’s engine shook us to our cores. The United Airlines flight was boarding from Colorado and heading to Hawaii on Sunday when the plane’s right engine failed. The plane shed debris across three neighborhoods outside Denver, and the engine’s covering fell off. Luckily, it was still the right time for the pilot to turn the plane around and go back to Denver airport.
Boeing said in a statement that 128 of its 777 jets powered by a Pratt and Whitney engine should be grounded until the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) inspects the engine. United announced that it will ground two dozen B777 airplanes mainly used for international travel. The majority of Boeing triple seven airplanes around the world are equipped with a Pratt and Whitney engine (family of PW4000 engine).
Japan took initiative and grounded all 777s with the same engine even before the F.A.A. in the U.S. Japan’s order affected 32 jets operated by All Nippon Airlines and Japan Airlines. The same airplane and engines were also used by Korean airlines; Asiana airlines and Korean air. While the former temporarily stopped the operation of its 777s, Korean Air is still waiting for guidance from local regulators.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading an investigation into the engine failure and its initial investigation showed that two fan blades in the engine fractured and the covering separated. This problem adds to Boeing’s growing challenges.
Last year, all of Boeing’s 737 Max airplanes around the world had to be grounded because of a system failure. The airplanes were grounded for a total of 20 months which cost Boeing $20 Billion. Boeing is a leader in the wide-body airplanes like the 777 and 787 which are used for international travel and long haul flights. However, the coronavirus pandemic has made international travel and the use of these airplanes less likely. To sum it all up, 69 of the B777 planes now have to be grounded.
The problem with the Pratt & Whitney engine is still undetermined, but it is most likely manufacturing or a maintenance issue. Although the United Airlines flight made it back to Denver airport safely, the safety issues underscore a growing challenge for a company that was once recognized as a safety leader.
References:
1) Chokshi, N., & Dooley, B. (2021, February 21). F.A.A. orders inspections on Boeing 777 Jets after engine failure. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/21/business/faa-boeing-777-engines.html
2) Isidore, C. (2021, February 22). The 737 Max is no LONGER Boeing's biggest problem, after yet another safety Grounding. Retrieved February 22, 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/22/business/boeing-widebody-jet-woes/index.html
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