The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said the XWB-97 engine fire on an A350 aircraft flown by Cathay Pacific on September 2, 2024, was possibly linked to a maintenance issue.
The EASA had previously issued an airworthiness directive (AD), ordering airlines to visually inspect the Rolls-Royce engines after the incident.
"In-service and in-shop inspections since then have identified that a specific cleaning process available during engine refurbishment may lead to fuel manifold main fuel hose degradation," the EASA said in a statement. "The new AD responds to this development."
The new AD said the affected part was the fuel manifold main fuel hose. It said: "Damage of a fuel manifold main fuel hose, leading to a controlled, temporary engine fire and heat damage to the exterior and interior of the engine nacelle (thrust reverser C-ducts), was reported. The occurrence resulted in a commanded in-flight shut down."
The directive added that the investigation is "still ongoing to identify the root cause" of the incident.