Malaysia Airlines has grounded its new Airbus A330neo just days after its maiden flight for technical reasons, Malaysian media reported, a new operational failure for the national airline.
'The problem is with the factory and it is affecting the reputation and brand of Malaysia Airlines,' the company's managing director Izham Ismail told the Malaysian newspaper the New Straits Times on Sunday.
'Safety is essential. I won't take any risks on security.'
Mr Ismail said the technical failures of the new plane were 'not acceptable'.
According to the daily, the plane's inaugural flight between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne on December 19 was marred by technical problems.
AFP was unable to obtain comment from Malaysia Airlines.
Defective component
The airline has suffered several setbacks this year, with a reduction in the number of routes and labor problems.
In 2022, the company agreed to acquire 20 Airbus A330neo aircraft to modernize its wide-body fleet.
The A330neo, powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, is considered more fuel efficient.
“We want Airbus and Rolls-Royce to investigate the root of the problem,” Izham Ismail told the New Straits Times.
Rolls-Royce told the newspaper it had found a faulty component, while Airbus said it was ready to help Malaysia Airlines.
/ATS
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