RYANAIR has found suspected fake parts in its plane engines – making it the latest airline to become tangled in a spiralling crisis.
The budget carrier revealed it had found the allegedly faulty parts in two of its planes while they were checked over in Texas and Brazil.
AFPRyanair is the latest airline to get caught up in a ‘fake parts’ crisis[/caption]
The company’s chief executive Michael O’Leary says the parts – thought to have come from London firm AOG Technics – have now been removed.
In October it was revealed the British airline industry was frantically checking over its planes after AOG Technics was accused of supplying components with forged safety certificates.
Ryanair is the latest carrier to become caught up in the scandal – with Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines said to have already found suspect parts.
Company CEO Mr O’Leary told Bloomberg the company had never dealt with AOG, but had got the parts for two engines through third parties.
He said the company came across the components after being urged to check over their planes when accusations around AOG started swirling.
Mr O’Leary added that Ryanair was “largely unaffected” by the crisis.
AOG Technics Ltd was put under the microscope by regulators after allegedly allowing Airbus A320s and Boeing 737 models take off with fake engine parts.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed in October that UK airlines had bought – and flown with – pieces bought off the company.
CAA said at the time: “We can confirm that we are one of a number of organisations looking into this, but we are unable to comment further on ongoing investigations.”
The authority then urged airlines to look over their records, adding: “For each part obtained, please contact the approved organisation identified on the ARC [airworthiness release certificates] to verify the origin of the certificate,” they added.
“If the approved organisation attests that the ARC did not originate from that organisation, then all affected parts should be quarantined to prevent installation.
“If a part is found with falsified ARC which has already been installed it should be replaced with an approved part.”
Aviacionline reported AOG allegedly provided false organisations on their airworthiness release certificates.
This was investigated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
AOG is now being dragged before London’s High Court.
During a hearing in October, the firm did not provide a comment on the alleged falsified safety certificates.
Judge Richard Meade has ordered the company and sole director Jose Zamora Yrala disclose all documents relating to hundreds of purchases and shipments.
Lawyers representing AOG Technics and Zamora Yrala stated the defendants are cooperating with investigations.
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