The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Sunday that he was demanding “immediate or intensive inspections” of all Boeing 777 planes equipped with a particular Pratt & Whitney engine model the day after the jet suffered a dramatic engine failure in Colorado.
Also on Sunday, United Airlines, the only American airline affected by the FAA order, said it was temporarily stranding the 24 Boeing 777 aircraft currently in use in its fleet with Pratt & Whitney engines.
The FAA’s announcement came shortly after its counterpart in Japan ordered airlines to stop flying the plane, affecting 32 jets operated by All Nippon Airways and Japan Airways. Japanese and American orders apply only to Boeing 777s equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines.
“We reviewed all the security data available after yesterday’s incident,” said FAA administrator Steve Dickson in a statement. “Based on the initial information, we concluded that the inspection interval should be accelerated for the hollow fan blades, exclusive to this engine model, used exclusively on Boeing 777 aircraft.”
The Colorado episode, involving United Airlines flight 328 on Saturday, did not result in injuries, but the plane did scatter debris in three neighborhoods before landing safely in Denver.
In a statement on Sunday, United said “security remains our top priority – for our employees and customers”. He continued: “This is why our pilots and flight attendants participate in extensive training to prepare and manage incidents like United flight 328. And we remain proud of your professionalism and unwavering dedication to safety in our day-to-day operations and when emergencies like this occur. “
Dickson said the FAA is working with its counterparts around the world and that its security experts will meet “late at night” with Pratt & Whitney and Boeing to complete the details of the necessary inspections. Only airlines in the United States, Japan and South Korea operate Boeing 777s with the affected Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine model, according to the agency.
A Japan Airways spokesman said the airline had already stopped using the 13 Boeing 777s in its engine-equipped fleet before the aviation authority issued its directive. Only three regular flights were affected. The airline said last year that it planned to remove all 13 planes from its fleet early next year.