Boeing Cargo Plane Debris Falls in the Netherlands as Well

Pratt & Whitney Engine Series Like the P&W F135

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Following incidents involving Boeing passenger planes, it has been reported that engine debris fell off a cargo plane during flight and crashed into a residential area, according to CNN on the 21st (local time).

According to the Dutch aviation safety authorities, a Boeing 747-412 cargo plane departing from Maastricht and heading to New York, USA, experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff and made an emergency landing at Li?ge Airport in Belgium. During this process, metal debris from the engine fell onto houses and vehicles. Two people sustained minor injuries, while none of the crew members aboard the cargo plane were injured.

The Dutch aviation safety authorities explained that fan blades detached from one of the four engines of the cargo plane fell to the ground.

The aircraft, owned by cargo-only airline Longtail Aviation, was equipped with Pratt & Whitney's 'PW4000' series engines, the same type used on the Boeing 777 passenger plane involved in an incident in Denver, USA.

The Dutch aviation safety authorities and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are jointly investigating the cause and circumstances of the accident. Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, stated in a press release that "the company's technical advisors are cooperating with the investigation."

This cargo plane accident occurred shortly after debris fell from a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 passenger plane. On the same day in Colorado, a United Airlines Boeing 777-200 passenger plane caught fire in its right engine shortly after takeoff from Denver International Airport and made an emergency return, during which engine debris fell onto residential areas.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered urgent inspections related to the incident. FAA Administrator Steve Dickson stated in a press release, "The FAA is increasing inspections on some Boeing 777 passenger planes equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW4000 series engines, and it is highly likely that some aircraft will be taken out of service."

He added, "We have reviewed all safety data since the accident and, based on initial information, concluded that the inspection interval for the fan blades, a component exclusive to the Boeing 777 engines, should be shortened."

This is not the first defect involving Pratt & Whitney's PW4000 series engines. On December 4 last year, a Japan Airlines Boeing 777 passenger plane returning from Okinawa to Tokyo had to turn back after an engine fan blade was damaged.

In February 2018, a United Airlines passenger plane flying from San Francisco to Hawaii experienced an incident where an engine fan blade detached.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.