Domestic Airlines Suspend Boeing 777 Operations... Engine Inspections Underway

As the court's decision on Korean Air's acquisition of Asiana Airlines approaches, on the 30th, Korean Air and Asiana Airlines passenger planes were moving toward the runway at Gimpo Airport apron in Gangseo-gu, Seoul. The Seoul Central District Court is expected to deliver a ruling today or tomorrow on the injunction request filed by activist private equity fund KCGI against Hanjin KAL to prohibit the issuance of new shares. If the court dismisses the injunction request, the acquisition process will accelerate, but if the injunction is granted, the acquisition is likely to be canceled. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Following the crash of a Boeing 777 in the United States, Boeing has recommended grounding all aircraft worldwide equipped with the same series of engines. In response, domestic airlines have also suspended operations of the Boeing 777.

According to the aviation industry on the 23rd, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, and Jin Air have voluntarily grounded a total of 29 Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with the 'PW4000' series engines.

Korean Air has suspended operations of 6 out of 16 Boeing 777 aircraft equipped with PW4000 series engines, excluding 10 that were already out of service.

A Korean Air official stated, "All 6 aircraft equipped with PW4000 series engines have been grounded, and engine inspections will be conducted."

Asiana Airlines also decided to suspend operations of 9 Boeing 777 aircraft using PW4000 series engines. Jin Air has similarly grounded 4 Boeing aircraft for the same reason.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ordered a special inspection of 29 domestic aircraft equipped with the same series of engines as the Boeing 777 that returned due to engine failure in the United States.

Earlier, on the 20th, a United Airlines Boeing B777-200 flying from Denver, Colorado to Hawaii experienced an engine failure mid-flight, causing debris to fall into a residential area.