[Exclusive] Engine Design Flaw Found in LOT Polish Airlines Aircraft Operating in Incheon... Flights Continue Unabated

Passengers Arrive in Paris After 30 Hours Due to Flight Cancellation... Total 17 Hours Waiting
Aviation Expert: "Engine Design Defect Is a Serious Issue... 'Maintenance Negligence' Also Suspected"
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: "Not Our Responsibility... Passengers Must Handle Compensation Claims Themselves..."

LOT Polish Airlines logo

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] It was belatedly revealed that a LOT Polish Airlines passenger plane operating regular flights between Incheon Airport and Europe had an 'engine design defect.'

The aircraft in question was confirmed to be a Boeing B787-8 model. Although the exact number of LOT Polish Airlines planes with the 'engine design defect' is unknown, it is known that LOT Polish Airlines only operates B787 models, including the Incheon route.

This fact was confirmed during complaints from passengers who suffered damages due to flight cancellations while trying to use the affected flight.

According to recent information sent by LOT Polish Airlines, on December 11 last year at 11:40 a.m., an engine design defect was discovered on flight LO 098 departing from Incheon Airport, via Warsaw, to Paris.

In a response letter sent to passengers, LOT Polish Airlines stated this and added, "The cancellation of flight LO 098 occurred due to circumstances beyond the airline's control."

They further explained, "With the disclosure of the aircraft engine's design defect, the airline had to follow the manufacturer's (i.e., Rolls-Royce) instructions," and "To replace the defective part, the engine had to be sent to the manufacturer."

Polish Airline Response Document Revealing Aircraft 'Engine Design Defect' [Passenger Report]

Considering that aviation accidents are major incidents, the fact that the engine defect was discovered before the flight prevented the worst-case scenario.

However, if the defective engine plane was not the first flight on the day of cancellation, it means LOT Polish Airlines had been operating the problematic aircraft continuously.

According to aviation maintenance experts, if the defect was unknown even after maintenance or was discovered late, maintenance negligence is suspected.

A maintenance expert from a domestic airline said about LOT Polish Airlines' statement, "It is correct to interpret it as a 'design defect' in English," adding, "Design defects are very sensitive and serious issues, so airlines rarely use such expressions."

Another airline official said, "If an 'engine design defect' is found in aviation maintenance, where even simple mechanical part defects are unacceptable, it would likely trigger an emergency for all airlines worldwide operating the same engine model."

He continued, "All operations of the problematic model would be suspended, and the aircraft manufacturer might face enormous compensation claims."

Aircraft 'Engine Design Defect' Details [Passenger Report]

However, after the cancellation of flight LO 098, LOT Polish Airlines is operating the Incheon Airport?Warsaw?Paris route normally four times a week.

LOT Polish Airlines has not provided any information or position in response to inquiries and requests for rebuttal from the press regarding the problematic aircraft and the engine design defect.

If it is later confirmed that there is no design defect, questions will remain as to why LOT Polish Airlines insisted on an 'uncontrollable engine design defect.'

If it is revealed that the airline used ambiguous regulations to avoid compensating passengers and provided false explanations, it could cause fatal damage to LOT Polish Airlines' corporate ethics and morality, along with potential legal liabilities.

Earlier, due to the cancellation of flight LO 098 to Paris, passengers waited over nine hours in Incheon before using alternative flights or departing a day later.

Passengers who departed at midnight ended up taking an alternative flight to Paris, which normally takes 14 hours, but due to waiting times of 17 hours (9 hours at Incheon Airport, 6 hours at Amsterdam, 2 hours at Warsaw) plus 13 hours of flight time, they arrived after a total of 30 hours.

Passengers waiting at the airport due to the cancellation of LO 098 flight before departure [Passenger report]

Additionally, passengers had to retake the COVID-19 PCR test, valid for 48 hours, and during the transfer of luggage to the alternative flight, the airline mistakenly charged double for cargo transport fees, which were later refunded.

Victimized passengers expressed frustration, saying, "From about 30 minutes before takeoff, the airline repeatedly told us to 'wait' for over four hours," and "They did not provide accurate information, making it difficult to change plans or respond."

Despite this, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, responsible for supervision, has only represented the airline's position without understanding the situation, leaving airline management in a blind spot that fails to prevent passenger damages.

An official in charge of the aviation industry said, "We received opinions from the airline, and they apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers," adding, "Compensation for passenger damages is not a matter for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; passengers should apply to the Korea Consumer Agency."

A representative from Incheon International Airport Corporation said, "The service level of foreign airlines is significantly lower than that of domestic airlines, which is a fact that causes many complaints from users," and added, "Although the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has the authority to evaluate and sanction airlines, I have not seen them actually managing or supervising at the airport."

Passengers are unloading cargo and luggage from the bus after arriving at a hotel near Incheon Airport to wait for a replacement flight due to the cancellation of LO flight 098 [Passenger report]

Meanwhile, according to data submitted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to the office of Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-hoon of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, LOT Polish Airlines ranked 60th out of 82 airlines in a recent passenger transport service evaluation (user satisfaction in the first half of 2019).

Furthermore, LOT Polish Airlines was completely excluded from the punctuality evaluation for foreign airlines (European routes).