Virgin Atlantic Flight Grounded Due to Passenger’s Discovery of Missing Wing Bolts

A Virgin Atlantic flight originating from Manchester, England, and bound for John F. Kennedy Airport in New York faced cancellation after a passenger observed the absence of four fasteners on the top of the Airbus A330’s wing.

The concerning incident unfolded during the safety briefing just moments before the scheduled departure of flight VS127 on January 15, as per the Manchester Evening News report. The vigilant passenger promptly informed a crew member about the missing fasteners.

While the crew attempted to reassure the passenger that there were no safety hazards associated with the absent fasteners, the traveler expressed heightened apprehension, citing the recent Alaska Airlines incident. In that occurrence on January 8, a section of fuselage blew out mid-flight, resulting in a significant breach in the plane’s structure. The incident led to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issuing a grounding order for Boeing 737 Max 9 airplanes.

Following the passenger’s alert, engineers were summoned to inspect the Airbus A330, leading to the cancellation of flight VS127. This decision aimed to allocate time for precautionary additional engineering maintenance checks, affording the team ample time to conduct thorough inspections, as explained by a Virgin Atlantic spokesperson.

The airline emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew always takes precedence, assuring that there was no compromise in safety at any point during the incident. Virgin Atlantic stated its commitment to maintaining safety standards well above industry norms, and the aircraft was subsequently deemed fit for service. The airline extended apologies to customers for any delays caused to their journeys.

According to Neil Firth, Airbus UK’s Chief Wing Engineer, the absence of the fasteners had “no impact on the structural integrity or load capability of the wing, and the aircraft was safe to operate.” Firth clarified that the affected panel is part of a secondary structure designed to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, with each panel secured by 119 fasteners.

“As a precautionary measure, the aircraft underwent an additional maintenance check, and the fasteners were replaced,” Firth added.

The incident underscores the importance of vigilant passengers and crew in maintaining safety standards and highlights the aviation industry’s commitment to thorough inspections and precautionary measures in response to any potential concerns. As the aircraft has since returned to service, the incident serves as a reminder of the collaborative efforts between passengers, crew, and engineers to ensure air travel safety.