An Air New Zealand Boeing 747 turned back an hour into a flight from London to Los Angeles.
The plane turned around after the crew reported a series of loud bangs from one of its four engines and excessive engine temperatures.
The Boeing 747-700 plane with 358 passengers on board returned to Heathrow airport after the engine was shut down.
It was the carrier’s third flight safety incident this month.
Earlier, the same plane lost a section of wing flap taking off from Auckland Airport, in an apparent part failure.
Another plane lost an unsecured wing panel in flight after an inspection failed to spot that the panel had only four screws instead of the required 125. The airline admitted human error.
Air New Zealand spokesman Mark Champion says the engines on the jumbo jet had been thoroughly checked as part of regular maintenance.
He defended the airline’s safety record, saying passengers could be assured it carried out rigorous checks.
“The recent safety issues are all very different in nature. In one we’ve acknowledged human error played a part. We have a very thorough maintenance programme,” Champion said.
The airline will investigate what caused the engine to overheat. A replacement engine had been found, and the aircraft was expected to return to service within a day.
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link: http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_677424.html?menu=
By: greekdude1 - 26th September 2002 at 03:11
RE: Air New Zealand B747 lands back at LHR after engine scare!
United ceased the around the world flight after 9/11. As far as ANZ using LAX rather than SIN or BKK like everybody else, the reasoning is two-fold. First of all, they have a mini-hub at LAX, serving 7 destinations from there(used to be nine, but post 9/11 they ceased HNL and FRA service, now codesharing with UA and LH, respectively). Second of all, AKL-LHR is actually shorter using LAX as a stopover rather than SIN or BKK. If you’re leaving SYD to go to LHR, then it’s closer to use Asia. But from AKL, routing via LAX is closer.
GD1
By: MapleLeaf_330 - 25th September 2002 at 19:49
RE: Air New Zealand B747 lands back at LHR after engine scare!
Very cleaver.
By: Bhoy - 25th September 2002 at 17:46
RE: Air New Zealand B747 lands back at LHR after engine scare!
Unted also do round the world flights. (from LR they go to India, then transpacific via either Singpore or Hong Kong.
As far as ANZ go, they need to make an enroute stop somewhere between Auckland and London, they go via LAX rather than via SE Asia, as most airlines do. It’s their call, at the end of the day.
By: MapleLeaf_330 - 25th September 2002 at 12:49
RE: Air New Zealand B747 lands back at LHR after engine scare!
How does AZ have rights to fly from LHR to LAX? Does this mean they operate an around the world route? I had thought that previously only Singapore came close to this. Interesting development in light of the whole “open skies” discussion that was going on last week.
By: A330Crazy - 25th September 2002 at 10:07
RE: Air New Zealand B747 lands back at LHR after engine scare!
Not again? This is the 3rd time in one month that Air NZ have had probs with their 744 fleet.
At the beginning of last month, part of the wing came loose, and then a week later on another 747, part of the wing fell away from the aircraft, and now this.
Me thinks Air NZ need to do some serious checks on their 747’s! 🙂
By: Hand87_5 - 25th September 2002 at 08:25
RE: Air New Zealand B747 lands back at LHR after engine scare!
Bad month for Air NZ . 🙁
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September 25, 2002 at 8:24 am