Malaysia Airlines grounds new Airbus A330neo jet over safety ...

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia Airlines has grounded its new Airbus A330neo jet just days after its maiden flight because of technical issues, another operational setback for the national carrier.

“The root cause is coming from the factory, and it is affecting the reputation and brand of Malaysia Airlines,” chief executive Izham Ismail was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times (NST) on Dec 23.

“Safety is paramount. I will not risk anything on safety,” he said.

Mr Izham said technical faults with a new aircraft were “not acceptable”, adding: “To me, it’s embarrassing.”

The newspaper said the plane’s inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Melbourne on Dec 19 was marred by technical issues.

The airline has suffered several setbacks in 2024, with manpower issues, including a shortage of skilled aircraft maintenance workers, and reduced routes.

In 2022, it agreed to acquire 20 Airbus A330neo planes to update its fleet of wide-body jets. The A330neo, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is considered more fuel-efficient.

“We need Airbus and Rolls-Royce to investigate the root cause of these issues on the brand-new aircraft,” Mr Izham told the NST.

Rolls-Royce told the newspaper it found a faulty component, while Airbus said it was ready to assist Malaysia Airlines. AFP

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.