Fake Engine Parts In Carriers Raising Suspicion Over Safety Scam: Report
American and European airlines are facing the issue of fake engine parts in their airplanes, raising concern over the safety.
According to a report by Bloomberg, this spring, when engineers at TAP Air Portugal’s maintenance subsidiary gathered to check an CFM56 turbine came for repair, they found about this alarming issue. Though the paperwork identified the component as fresh from the production line, workers noticed that “a replacement part, a damper to reduce vibration, and showed signs of wear.” Following, on June 21, TAP pointed the disparity to Safran SA, the French aerospace company that focuses on making CFM engines together with General Electric Co.
Safran identified paperwork had been forged; the signature did not belong to the company employee, and the reference and purchase order numbers were also not matched. This lead Safran and GE to find over 90 other similar false certifications. “Bogus parts have been found on 126 engines, and all are linked to the same parts distributor in London: AOG Technics Ltd., a little-known outfit started eight years ago by a young entrepreneur named Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala,” Bloomberg report said.
All major airlines in US airline industry and several others confirmed the presence of fake engine parts from AOG on their airplanes. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also identified that some dubious parts sourced from AOG Technics are located in UK aircraft. Thereby, CAA has issued notice of safety concern to all UK organisations asking them investigate their records meticulously so to check the source of jet engine parts.
The major American airlines are now engaged in a lawsuit against AOG Techtonics, charging them with suspicious business practices to grasp profits of $3 million.
Even though no emergencies have been called due to engine malfunctions, the scandal throws light on the loopholes in the system easily favouring for safety protocol violations.
(With inputs from Bloomberg)
