A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner operated by Scoot diverted to Adelaide, Australia, due to an engine problems mid-flight. The incident cut the nearly 8-hour journey to Singapore short, significantly delaying the more than 300 passengers onboard.
The emergency landing comes as similar incidents involving the engines of 787 aircraft have occurred recently. Boeing has been under the spotlight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to several recent challenges the aircraft type has experienced.
Details of the incident
The aircraft, registered 9V-OJC, operated as Scoot flight 3 (TGW 3) from Sydney, Australia, to Singapore, according to The Aviation Herald. Data from Flightradar24.com indicates that the Dreamliner departed from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport's runway 34L at 13:34 on Saturday, April 29th. The aircraft continued north and turned west at around 1,500 feet to continue its climb. At 6,300 feet, the plane turned further west and reached 321 mph at approximately 10,000 feet.
Around 15 minutes after departure, 9V-OJC was still climbing at 25,500 feet with an increased speed of 470 mph. At 13:56, the aircraft reached an altitude of 34,000 and maintained the altitude as it increased its speed to 495 mph. 41 minutes into the flight, the 787-9 started to climb again, reaching its scheduled cruising altitude of 36,000 feet.
9V-OJC remained at its cruising altitude for about 35 minutes and increased its speed to 570 mph. About 250 nautical miles northeast of Adelaide, the plane turned to the left at 14:52, circling directly back toward Sydney. The aircraft remained flying in that direction before it descended and rerouted to Adelaide. Nearly 2 hours into its journey, 9V-OJC reached an altitude of 20,000 feet and stayed there for about 13 minutes before descending further. The 787-9 landed safely 15 minutes later at 15:22 on runway 23 at Adelaide International Airport. 311 passengers were onboard, with no injuries reported.
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What's wrong with the engine?
According to The Aviation Herald, the pilots onboard reported the aircraft's left Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine had low oil quantity and pressure, prompting them to shut it down mid-flight. Scoot said the Dreamliner made an emergency landing in Adelaide as a precaution and that spare parts would need to be sent to the airport to fix the aircraft.
The airline sent a replacement aircraft, another 787-9, registered 9V-OJF. The plane was already in Singapore and flew 6 hours to pick up the passengers from TGW 3 in Adelaide. 9V-OJF arrived at Adelaide at 11:24 on Sunday and then departed at 14:17 to complete the passenger's trip to Singapore. The jet landed in Singapore at 19:43 on Sunday evening after a nearly 7-hour flight, about 25 hours after the flight's originally scheduled arrival time.
Other 787 issues
9V-OJC remains on the ground in Adelaide. It is unclear when it will be repaired and will return to service. The incident comes a week after a 787-8 operated by El Al Israel Airlines experienced engine issues inflight. The widebody jet, which has the same engine type as the Scoot 787-9, had to return to Tel Aviv while enroute to Tokyo.
The FAA has been aware of the 787's recent challenges. In March, the agency allowed Boeing to resume deliveries after concerns about the aircraft's fuselage. Last month, inspections were ordered after leaky faucets were discovered in some of the lavatories onboard.
Source: The Aviation Herald