Major U.S. Airlines Discover Forged Safety Certificates in Jet Engines

In a startling revelation, major U.S. airlines have uncovered that some of their jet engines were equipped with parts that carried counterfeit safety certificates, leading to a legal action against a London-based parts supplier. The discovery of these unauthorized components has raised concerns about aviation safety.

The impacted airlines, including Delta Air Lines, United, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines, have identified unapproved parts in their engines, with the CFM56 model being the most affected. The alleged supplier responsible for these counterfeit parts is AOG Technics, a company that procures components before selling them to maintenance and repair organizations.

Delta Air Lines acknowledged the issue, stating that a “small number” of aircraft engines containing non-compliant parts were identified during a recent overhaul. The airline emphasized its commitment to safety and revealed that it is actively replacing the non-compliant components in coordination with the overhaul provider, ensuring compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines. Delta clarified that the affected engines constituted less than 1% of its more than 2,100 engines in its mainline fleet, assuring that no aircraft were currently in operation with these unauthorized engine parts, and there was no disruption to its scheduled flights.

United Airlines also confirmed the presence of unapproved parts, revealing that they were discovered on two aircraft within their fleet. These non-compliant compressor stator vane seals were installed on a single engine in each of the affected aircraft, one of which was already undergoing routine maintenance. United is taking proactive measures to replace these affected engines before returning the aircraft to service and continues to investigate the matter.

Southwest Airlines reported a similar situation, with one engine in its fleet of more than 800 Boeing 737s containing unauthorized parts. The airline discovered the issue in early August and promptly initiated steps to rectify the situation. In collaboration with their suppliers, Southwest Airlines identified two low-pressure turbine blades from AOG Technics in one engine and immediately decided to replace them to ensure passenger safety. The airline reiterated that its flight operations remained unaffected by this incident.

As of the latest reports, unapproved parts have been identified in a total of 126 engines, according to The Wall Street Journal.

General Electric and its engine partner Safran have taken legal action against AOG Technics, alleging that the company falsified documents to sell jet engine parts to multiple airlines. Both companies became aware of the issue in June, leading to their joint lawsuit against the London-based supplier. The lawsuit underscores the gravity of the situation and the aviation industry’s commitment to upholding rigorous safety standards.

American Airlines has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the issue.

The discovery of counterfeit safety certificates in jet engine components serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of maintaining the highest safety standards in the aviation industry. Airlines continue to work diligently to ensure the safety of their passengers, promptly addressing any potential risks posed by unapproved parts in their aircraft.