The recommendation for the planes to be grounded by Boeing comes for a plane with a different engine
PIA will continue to fly its 12 Boeing 777 in the fleet since the engines in these planes are from General Electric. PIA clarified that Boeing’s grounding recommendation for the 777 is for the planes with Pratt & Whitney engines. About a thousand GE engine 777 aircraft are in use globally.
The grounding comes after a recent incident where a United Airlines Flight had to return a little after takeoff to the Denver International Airport due to obvious engine trouble that was also caught on the camera. About 230 travelers and crew members remained safe.
Boeing recently recommended that a specific model of the plane to be suspended for now. “We are actively monitoring recent events related to United Airlines flight UA328. While the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation is ongoing, we recommended suspending operations of the 69 in-service and 59 in-storage 777s powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines until the FAA identifies the appropriate inspection protocol,” the statement read.
“We support the decision yesterday by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, and the FAA’s action today to suspend operations of 777 aircraft powered by Pratty & Whitney 4000-112 engines. We are working with these regulators as they take actions while these planes are on the ground and further inspections are conducted by Pratt & Whitney,” it further read.