United Airlines delays return of some Boeing 777s until May
By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -United Airways confirmed on Friday it has delayed the return of some grounded Boeing 777 planes with Pratt & Whitney 4000 engines till not less than Could 12.
An engine on a United Airways 777 jet failed shortly after takeoff from Denver in February 2021, showering particles over close by cities however nobody was injured and the airplane safely returned to the airport.
“We proceed to work rigorously with Boeing, Pratt & Whitney and the (Federal Aviation Administration) to securely return these plane to service quickly, and our present plan will enable them to return within the second half of Could,” United spokesman Joshua Freed stated.
United is the one U.S. operator of 777s with the PW4000 engine and has 52 of these planes. United shares closed down 1% Friday.
CNBC reported the delay earlier, citing a memo to pilots.
Final month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated it was finalizing three security directives for these grounded 777s that may enable them to return to service.
The FAA stated the brand new directives, which have been proposed in December after three reported in-flight fan blade failures, require enhanced inspections and modifications.
The FAA stated the directives could be efficient April 15.
In February 2021, FAA ordered instant inspections earlier than additional flights, after the Nationwide Transportation Security Board discovered a cracked fan blade on the United engine constructed by Pratt, a unit of Raytheon Applied sciences.
Boeing should develop a service bulletin laying out steps airways should take to fulfill necessities. FAA should approve that bulletin earlier than the planes can return to service.
In April 2021, Japan Airways stated it had retired its fleet of 13 Boeing Co 777s with PW4000 engines a 12 months sooner than deliberate. The engines are on solely a small variety of older 777s exterior the USA.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Modifying by Leslie Adler and Aurora Ellis)
