This month, a series of major security incidents in the aviation and telecommunications industries have sparked global attention. An Airbus A350 Cathay Pacific caught fire shortly after takeoff, and investigators speculated that a fuel leak could have caused serious damage to the aircraft. At the same time, Icom, a Japan telecommunications company, has been questioned for its involvement in the Lebanon bombing.
National Thai Airlines A350 客机引擎起火
Cathay Pacific has always had a good safety record, but an engine fire earlier this month raised widespread concerns about the safety of its fleet.
According to a preliminary report from the Hong Kong Aviation Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIA), the accident occurred on an Airbus A350 airliner equipped with Rolls-Royce-manufactured Trent XWB-97 engines. At the time of the accident, the plane was flying from Hong Kong to Zurich with 348 passengers and crew on board.
The incident occurred shortly after the plane took off, and the pilot received an engine fire alarm in the cockpit. After emergency treatment, the pilot quickly turned off the affected engine and activated the fire extinguishing system. Fortunately, the plane eventually returned safely and landed in Hong Kong with no injuries to any passengers or crew.
According to preliminary investigations, the main cause of the accident was damage to several fuel hoses, one of which ruptured the protective layer, resulting in a noticeable hole in the hose. Further inspection also revealed that the damaged fuel hose was not limited to this one, but also five other hoses on the same engine were defective.
At the same time, traces of a fire were found inside the engine, including soot and burn marks, suggesting that a fuel leak had started the fire.
The United States Aviation Administration (FAA) is highly concerned about the incident, saying that if these problems are not detected and dealt with in time, it may lead to more serious engine fires and even serious damage to the entire aircraft.
In response to this potential crisis, the AAIA has recommended that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) ask Rolls-Royce to develop new inspection procedures for affected Trent XWB-97 engines.
Upon receipt of the investigation, EASA acted quickly and issued an "Emergency Airworthiness Directive" requiring all airlines using the same type of engine to immediately inspect fuel hoses and replace any hoses showing signs of damage. The directive was issued to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents and to protect the safety of passengers.
It is worth noting that the Trent XWB-97 engine was installed on only a few long-range aircraft. Although Rolls-Royce has always been known for its efficiency and durability, the incident has undoubtedly taken a toll on its reputation.
Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce announced that it would make significant investments in its engine range, including enhancing the performance of the Trent XWB-97. However, some industry leaders, including Gulf Air President Tim · Clark, have expressed concerns about the engine's durability and maintenance costs.
Radio equipment was involved in the Lebanon bombing, and Japan companies were caught in the vortex of public opinion
In addition to the security crisis in the aviation industry, there has also been a high-profile incident in the telecommunications industry. On September 19, Japan telecommunications equipment manufacturer ICOM was involved in an investigation related to the Lebanon bombing.
The explosion reportedly killed at least 20 people and injured more than 450, while the walkie-talkie equipment found at the blast site was linked to the Lebanon armed group Allah. The equipment at the site of the explosion appears to be an IC-V82 type radio transceiver manufactured by ICOM.
According to Icom, the IC-V82 model radio was discontinued back in October 2014 and that the company has not manufactured or exported the model since then. In a statement, ICOM made it clear that the devices do not have a holographic anti-counterfeiting label that is used to distinguish counterfeit products, so it is not possible to confirm the authentic origin of these walkie-talkies.
ICOM also said that the device was exported to the Middle East, but that the company has not produced or exported the model in the past decade. In addition, Icom's United States subsidiary also said that the radio equipment in the explosion may be counterfeit.
One of the company's sales executives said, "It's easy to find counterfeit versions of the IC-V82 walkie-talkie online. ”
It is understood that the Japan company still does not know where in the supply chain the equipment was damaged. The walkie-talkies reportedly appear to have been purchased by Allah five months before the explosion. Icom emphasizes that all its products are manufactured in Japan and sold to the global market through authorized distributors. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to quality and said it would continue to investigate the origin of the equipment.
This is not the first time that Asian companies have been involved in similar incidents. According to British media reports on September 19, Taiwan company Gold Apollo was also involved in incidents related to the Lebanon explosion. The explosion involved thousands of pagers and killed at least 12 people and injured more than 2,000. Gold Apollo founder Hsu Ching-Kuang denied any involvement in the incident and said it had licensed its trademark to Hungary company BAC Consulting.