JumboJet
Dec 2, 04, 6:11 pm
Cathay Jet Part Hits Car
by Paris Lord
Cathay Pacific Airways officials are investigating the fifth incident involving its aircraft in five months after a two-metre long chunk of material fell off the engine of an India-bound Boeing 777-300 and hit a car 30 minutes after take-off from Bangkok International Airport.
Flight CX751 carrying 345 passengers and 17 crew left Bangkok for Mumbai around 6pm on Wednesday, turned back an hour into the flight after dumping fuel and landed safely.
The car was damaged but no one was hurt.
It is the latest in a series of incidents involving what traditionally has been regarded as Hong Kong's leading airline - one that has not had a crash in modern times.
In recent months, the airline disciplined two pilots for what was called a ``sporty'' July landing at Hong Kong International Airport; turned back two November flights, from London and Los Angeles, after passengers saw flames coming from engines and investigated a landing in August at Hong Kong that veered off course in poor weather.
The twin-engined Cathay aircraft in Thursday's incident remains grounded in Bangkok while Cathay Pacific Engineering and Boeing staff investigate, the airline said.
Thai newspapers said debris also hit a pickup truck, and reported one of the aircraft's four engines ``exploded'' although Cathay called the explosion story ``completely incorrect''.
``The inner surface of the No1 engine left-hand D duct collapsed, causing separation of a section of the duct structure,'' a Cathay statement said.
``The proximity of the released material to the engine exhaust may have produced some sparks.''
The engine kept working ``satisfactorily'' and the aircraft returned to Bangkok as a standard precautionary procedure, while the safety of all on board was ``not in question'', spokeswoman Carolyn Leung said.
The D duct is made by Boeing, houses the engine thrust reverser and wraps around the engine core in two halves, Leung added.
She stopped short of saying if the company would compensate Mongkol Uthoksiri, whose car was badly damaged.
``It was very unfortunate and we will do as much as we can to help,'' Leung said.......The Standard, Greater China's Business Newspaper Article (http://www.thestandard.com.hk/thestandard/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=52681&intcatid=1)
by Paris Lord
Cathay Pacific Airways officials are investigating the fifth incident involving its aircraft in five months after a two-metre long chunk of material fell off the engine of an India-bound Boeing 777-300 and hit a car 30 minutes after take-off from Bangkok International Airport.
Flight CX751 carrying 345 passengers and 17 crew left Bangkok for Mumbai around 6pm on Wednesday, turned back an hour into the flight after dumping fuel and landed safely.
The car was damaged but no one was hurt.
It is the latest in a series of incidents involving what traditionally has been regarded as Hong Kong's leading airline - one that has not had a crash in modern times.
In recent months, the airline disciplined two pilots for what was called a ``sporty'' July landing at Hong Kong International Airport; turned back two November flights, from London and Los Angeles, after passengers saw flames coming from engines and investigated a landing in August at Hong Kong that veered off course in poor weather.
The twin-engined Cathay aircraft in Thursday's incident remains grounded in Bangkok while Cathay Pacific Engineering and Boeing staff investigate, the airline said.
Thai newspapers said debris also hit a pickup truck, and reported one of the aircraft's four engines ``exploded'' although Cathay called the explosion story ``completely incorrect''.
``The inner surface of the No1 engine left-hand D duct collapsed, causing separation of a section of the duct structure,'' a Cathay statement said.
``The proximity of the released material to the engine exhaust may have produced some sparks.''
The engine kept working ``satisfactorily'' and the aircraft returned to Bangkok as a standard precautionary procedure, while the safety of all on board was ``not in question'', spokeswoman Carolyn Leung said.
The D duct is made by Boeing, houses the engine thrust reverser and wraps around the engine core in two halves, Leung added.
She stopped short of saying if the company would compensate Mongkol Uthoksiri, whose car was badly damaged.
``It was very unfortunate and we will do as much as we can to help,'' Leung said.......The Standard, Greater China's Business Newspaper Article (http://www.thestandard.com.hk/thestandard/news_detail_frame.cfm?articleid=52681&intcatid=1)