The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered an ‘urgent’ fix for Dreamliner jets fitted with the latest General Electric engines.
An urgent safety directive was issued following an incident earlier this year which caused sudden engine failure in icy conditions.
Boeing spokesman Doug Adler said the newest General Electric engines are vulnerable to natural icing at lower altitudes.
The FAA said it is ordering modifications to the GEnx engines which would prevent ice from forming on its fan blades which can result in ‘damage and a possible in-flight non-restartable power loss of one or both engines.’
The agency says it only affects the newest version of the engine.
The FAA directive impacts 43 planes flown by US airlines and 176 globally.
At least one of the engines on all Dreamliners must be repaired or replaced with an older version of the engine within five months.
GE recommended the fix earlier this month after investigations with Boeing and ‘worked with the FAA on a plan to fully resolve it,’ said Boeing spokesman Doug Adler.
About 40 Dreamliners have already been fixed, he said.
