Korean Air and Asiana landed a Boeing 777 after an engine accident

The two largest carriers in South Korea – Korean Air Lines Co. and Asiana Airlines Inc. – said on Monday that all Boeing 777 passenger planes will land following a recent engine failure incident in the United States.

A B777-200 plane suffered an engine failure after taking off on Saturday (local time) to Honolulu, with a hood and other parts of the plane found to be scattered on the ground in Denver, according to foreign media reports.

United Airlines, Inc. flight he would have landed safely, with no injuries on the plane or on the ground.

Boeing Co. recommended to its customers ground 777 aircraft paired with the Pratt & Whitney PW4000 engine.

Korean Air currently operates six of 16 B777 aircraft with the same engine on routes to Japan and Southeast Asia, and Asiana operates seven of nine B777s on short and medium routes to meet the demand for business travel.

“We are in consultation with Boeing and the Ministry of Transport on the suspension of the aircraft. There is no recommendation from the authorities to stop the operation of the aircraft,” a Korean Air spokeswoman said.

Jin Air Co., Korea Air’s budget transport unit, operates four B777 aircraft on domestic routes. The carrier said it was waiting for a recommendation from the ministry.

Local airlines have suspended most flights on international routes since early last year as countries tighten entry restrictions to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation into the accident. The NTSB will focus on what caused the engine failure, the reports said. (Yonhap)