VIRGIN Australia will replace 17 turbine blades on engines in its Boeing 737 fleet, in response to a safety directive issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The move follows last week’s fatal Southwest Airlines incident, where a passenger died after debris from a damaged engine smashed through the window of one of its 737s.
Metal fatigue is suspected as a contributing factor, with the FAA ordering inspections of all 737 engines with fan blades that had accumulated over 30,000 cycles.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority has confirmed that local carriers have complied with the FAA order, with VA to replace a “small number” of blades without impacting customers or flight schedules.
“Safety is the Virgin Australia group’s number one priority,” the carrier said.
Source: traveldaily