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Several Indian Airlines Aircraft Grounded Over A320neo Engine Issues

Concerns revolve around Pratt and Whitney powerplants rejected by Qatar Airways

Two Indian airlines have either limited or grounded a number of Airbus A320neo aircraft, citing issues with a Pratt and Whitney engine that was previously rejected by Qatar Airways over performance concerns. The Indian Express reports IndiGo and GoAir are both setting restrictions on their A320neo fleet after several issues experienced during and after flight.

The most noteworthy issues happened earlier in 2017, causing the airlines to reconsider their aircraft in service. In February, a GoAir A320neo experienced an engine fire mid-flight. In August, an IndiGo A320neo experienced what the newspaper described as a “technical snag,” resulting in an emergency landing.

Since the two incidents, both airlines have either grounded aircraft, or advised pilots to not fly over 30,000 feet. GoAir has grounded two of their A320neo airframes, while IndiGo has parked as many as eight aircraft. To make up for the fleet shortcoming, IndiGo is leasing other A320s until the engine situation has been resolved.

At least two of IndiGo’s aircraft were originally intended for Qatar Airways, but were rejected by their original owner over the engine issues. Officials for the engine manufacturer site the “challenging environment of India” for the two malfunctions, stopping short of addressing Qatar’s concerns.

In a meeting with Indian aviation authorities, both airlines and Pratt and Whitney, an anonymous source inside the meetings told the news source that the engine manufacturer would prioritize delivering new engines for the A320neo aircraft. In the meantime, executives believe that the current engines pose no danger to the flying public.

“While not a safety issue, we report all the relevant data on these engines to the DGCA,” Aditya Ghosh, president of IndiGo, told The Indian Express in a statement. “They are also continuously monitoring these issues as part of their oversight authority and responsibility.”

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