Washington:
The US Federal Aviation Administration ordered added inspections Sunday of some Boeing 777 passenger jets, right after a United Airlines flight suffered engine failure a day earlier, scattering debris across a Colorado neighborhood.
FAA Administrator Steve Dickson mentioned the order meant some 777s would “likely” be removed from service.
He had consulted with his group of aviation security professionals right after Saturday’s engine failure aboard a Boeing 777 airplane shortly right after it took off from Denver.
“I have directed them to issue an Emergency Airworthiness Directive that would require immediate or stepped-up inspections of Boeing 777 airplanes equipped with certain Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engines,” Dickson mentioned in a statement released on Twitter.
A video shot from inside the aircraft — which had 231 passengers and 10 crew onboard — showed the ideal engine ablaze and wobbling on the wing of the Boeing 777-200, its cover completely missing as the aircraft returned to Denver airport.
There have been no injuries on the plane or on the ground, authorities mentioned.
Dickson mentioned a preliminary security information overview pointed to a want for more checks of the jet engine’s fan blades.
“Based on the initial information, we concluded that the inspection interval should be stepped up for the hollow fan blades that are unique to this model of engine, used solely on Boeing 777 airplanes,” Dickson mentioned.
He added that FAA officials have been meeting with Pratt & Whitney and Boeing representatives Sunday evening.
Flight UA328 had been headed from Denver to Honolulu when it seasoned an engine failure shortly right after departure.
Residents in the Denver suburb of Broomfield discovered substantial pieces of the plane scattered about their neighborhood, like a giant circular piece of metal that landed in someone’s yard.
The pilots have been in a position to return safely to Denver — also recognized as the Mile High City.
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