AMSTERDAM- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) has grounded seven Boeing 787 Dreamliners after discovering improper maintenance procedures for a refueling component, resulting in multiple long-haul flight cancellations from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).
The Dutch flag carrier confirmed that three intercontinental flights were canceled, affecting nearly 650 travelers on routes to Mexico City (MEX), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Portland (PDX). Affected passengers face rebookings and delays ranging from several hours to a full day.
Photo: Jeffry S.S. | PexelsKLM Grounds Seven Boeing 787s
KLM’s decision to ground the aircraft came after discovering that maintenance procedures for a refueling component were not properly followed on seven of its 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
While the airline emphasized there is no safety risk involved, the affected aircraft must undergo expedited maintenance to comply with Boeing’s specifications, NL Times reported.
The maintenance issue specifically involves a component used during aircraft refueling. Although the part is identical to one found on Boeing 777 aircraft, where KLM followed correct procedures, different maintenance protocols apply specifically to the 787 fleet, which the airline failed to implement properly.
“Although there is no safety risk, the seven aircraft will remain grounded and undergo expedited maintenance,” the airline stated in an official communication. “KLM has therefore decided to carry out maintenance on the seven affected 787 aircraft as quickly as possible according to the correct specifications.”
Photo: By Bill Abbott – cDSC_0337, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54266347Impact on Passengers and KLM’s Response
The groundings have significantly impacted KLM’s long-haul operations. The Mexico City flight, carrying 250 passengers, faced a full 24-hour delay, while flights to Chicago and Portland experienced delays between three and five hours. Initially, KLM believed passengers on all three canceled flights would be unable to depart before Sunday.
To minimize disruption, KLM is implementing a comprehensive response plan:
- Deploying replacement aircraft when possible
- Rebooking affected passengers on alternative flights
- Providing accommodation and meals for stranded travelers
- Adding capacity on subsequent flights to affected destinations
“KLM is doing everything possible to reduce the impact on passengers,” a spokesperson said. “Where possible, a replacement aircraft will be deployed. If that is not feasible, passengers will be rebooked to another flight so they can reach their destination with minimal inconvenience.”
The grounding impacts nearly 30% of KLM’s Boeing 787 fleet, creating significant operational challenges for the airline. KLM operates a total fleet of 228 aircraft, including 24 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, primarily deployed on long-distance international routes.
The airline must now balance immediate maintenance requirements against its scheduled flight operations while working to minimize passenger disruption. KLM has not provided an estimated timeline for when the affected aircraft will return to service, though the maintenance procedures are being expedited.
Photo: Danny Lon, Full Credits to himSimilar Incident
Last year, Air Tanzania’s Director General, Ladislaus Matindi, confirmed a critical design flaw in Rolls-Royce Trent engines that affects the airline’s Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner. The aircraft remains grounded in Malaysia for seven months due to these maintenance issues.
“There appears to be a design flaw with Rolls-Royce engines, warranting further investigation into the matter,” Matindi stated when addressing media reports about the grounded aircraft.
An Aviation Nuggets website identifies the specific engines as Trent 1000 Package C, which suffer from corrosion-induced fatigue leading to cracks in the mid-pressure turbine spools. These defects significantly increase the risk of engine malfunction.
The required inspection frequency has intensified from every 200 flights to every 80 flights. This increased inspection schedule elevates maintenance costs and reduces aircraft availability across the global fleet.
Air Tanzania, as of 2024, operated 14 aircraft, including two Boeing 787 Dreamliners equipped with the affected engines.
Boeing disclosed to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that Rolls-Royce recently identified a resonant response in the second-stage intermediate pressure compressor (IPC) spool. This response occurs during high-power operations under specific temperature conditions due to particular airflow patterns within the engine.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) responded by issuing a mandatory inspection directive covering multiple Trent 1000 engine variants. The FAA implemented operational restrictions on Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners equipped with Rolls-Royce engines, regardless of their certification category.
Rolls-Royce acknowledged the situation in an official statement: “As part of our routine inspection and testing of these engines, we have chosen to conduct additional inspections beyond the originally planned scope.”
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Two KLM Boeing 777 Operated Flights Makes U-Turn to Amsterdam
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