BA fire report finds ‘multiple breaches’ of the engine case
Initial findings of a report on the fire on a British Airways plane in Las Vegas earlier this week suggests engine parts flew out and landed on the runway.
According to the US’s National Transportation Safety Board, there were ‘multiple breaches’ of the engine case in the area around the high pressure compressor.
It said examination of the material recovered from runway found several pieces of the high pressure compressor spool, around 7-8 inches in length.
"Initial examination of the airplane by NTSB revealed that the left engine and pylon, left fuselage structure and inboard left wing airplane were substantially damaged by the fire," said the report.
"This damage will be documented over the next several days."
Dr Colin Brown from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers told the BBC a ‘fatigue crack’ was most likely the cause of the broken high-pressure compressor spool.
He said if the part is found to be relatively new and recently checked, this could ultimately ground aircraft with similar engines while they are checked for possible problems.
If an engine breaks, the casing is supposed to prevent any metal parts flying out and damaging the rest of the aircraft.
Flight 2276, a Boeing 777 bound for London Gatwick, caught fire on the tarmac at McCarran International Airport on Tuesday with 157 passengers, including one infant, and 13 crew on board.
Data from the flight data recorder, cockpit voice recorder and quick access recorder are now being downloaded and the engine is being shipped for close examination by experts.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive