Engine issue grounds five IndiGo jets

NEW DELHI: The release of additional spare engines has been initiated by P&W so that all aircraft are expected to be back in service in... August

AIRLINE SPOKESPERSON

At least five IndiGo aircraft have been grounded till August 15 as the airline is waiting for replacement engine for the A320 Neos, an airline official said on Wednesday.

In March this year, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had banned 11 A320 Neo aircraft of the airline from flying because of problems in their Pratt & Whitney (P&W) engines.

Engines of this make, beyond serial number 450, feature a seal that caused excess vibrations due to which the regulator had the aircraft till the engines were replaced. The aircraft were back in operation by June and it is not clear whether the same engine make developed problems again.

“IndiGo confirms that a few A320 Neos have been taken out of service proactively and await spare engines from Pratt and Whitney. The release of additional spare engines has been initiated by P&W so that all aircraft are expected to be back in service in the second half of August,” said a spokesperson for the airline.

About 8-10 scheduled flights of IndiGo are likely to get affected.

In June also, IndiGo and Go Air had to carry out an inspection of the P&W engines following Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) directives. The Airworthiness Directive by FAA was prompted by reports of damage to the engine fan hub. “FAA has issued this AD to detect defects, damage, and cracks that could result in an uncontained failure of the engine fan hub. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in uncontained failure of the engine fan hub, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane,” the directive said.

Pratt & Whitney did not comment on the issue.