The Civil Aviation Department today expressed that it is highly concerned about an issue relating to the engine component failure discovered on a Cathay Pacific A350 aircraft, stressing it attaches great importance to aviation safety.

The department explained that after it received notification from Cathay Pacific Airways on September 2 that the engine component failure was found on an aircraft bound for Zurich earlier that day, it has been maintaining close communication with the airline to provide regulatory advice.

The department met the management of Cathay Pacific Airways' engineering department yesterday to gather the latest updates on the investigation and maintenance.

Additionally, it has been closely monitoring the airline’s progress in following up the incident, including deploying department staff to conduct inspections of the engine concerned and monitor on-site the airline’s inspection of its A350 aircraft fleet.

The department noted that Cathay Pacific has made efforts to provide passengers with the most up-to-date information about the progress and status of affected flights from time to time through various channels, and has proactively carried out precautionary measures to ensure aviation safety while minimising the impact on passengers.

Meanwhile, in accordance with common international aviation practices, the department has taken the initiative to approach and notify relevant entities, including the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, other related civil aviation authorities as well as the manufacturers of the aircraft and engine concerned.

The department emphasised that it will continue to maintain close communication with the relevant parties and closely follow up on the investigation progress.