Recalled Jet Engines to Have Global Ramifications

Photo by Nick Morales on Unsplash

Commercial airline pilots know about the complexity of the modern airplane. A small defect could have catastrophic consequences for the entire aircraft. So when Pratt & Whitney, a manufacturer of aircraft engines and other parts, discovered microscopic cracks in their Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines, a recall became necessary.

The company announced a recall of 1,200 engines due to this issue, which has caused carriers around the world to ground their planes and scramble for alternate solutions during this busy travel season.

The GTF engines are used by dozens of carriers, both foreign and domestic. The engines notably power the popular Airbus A320. Carriers such as JetBlue, Spirit, Hawaiian, Europe’s Wizz Air, and India’s Go First had to alter schedules and rearrange flights due to the recall. India’s Go First, specifically, has been hit with this recall during bankruptcy proceedings.

11% of Airbus A320 planes that use the GTF engine are grounded. 57 different carriers have been affected.

The GTF engine, first introduced in 2016, is susceptible to these microscopic cracks due an issue with the powdered metal used to create the high-pressure turbine disks. Pratt & Whitney plans to begin inspections, with 200 engines inspected by mid-September.