Engineers investigate Jetstream engine problem [1]
Thursday, January 8, 2015 - 15:23. Updated on Thursday, January 8, 2015 - 15:28.
Engineers are working to identify the cause of an engine problem to the Jetstream 32 aircraft after it had full emergency landing at Fua’amotu Airport on Wednesday, 7 January.
The detaining of the aircraft, which has been grounded from any further commercial flights, leaves the airline operating the domestic routes with the Chinese aircraft MA60 and Y12E.
In a statement today, Real Tonga said that a full a report would be made available to the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure. The defect has to be identified and rectified together with necessary tests.
The Jetstream aircraft, which carried 19 people from Vava’u to Tongatapu, landed with one engine after the pilots experienced an engine indication that the right hand engine was functioning abnormally.
“The flight crew carried out the procedures for abnormal situations as per company requirements. This involved the shutdown of the RH engine and completing the flight with the LH engine. The J32 was designed to safely fly and land with one engine on such situations,” the statement said.
The airline said the passengers commended the flight crew's performance as they were kept informed and calm during the flight.
Real Tonga has been leasing the 20-year-old Jetstream aircraft from an Australian company for six-months.