In the latest of the ongoing feud between Airbus and Qatar Airways, the Doha-based carrier has claimed that surface wear on the affected Airbus A350s could lead to fuel tank fires.
According to Bloomberg, in recently released court documents, Qatar Airways has cited an EASA safety assessment from April 2021, noting that damage to the lightning mesh could pose a danger if it were co-incident with fuel tanks. The airline has stated that the damage to the skin is so severe that there are concerns wind and pollutants could penetrate through the skin and damage the lightning mesh. With significant damage seen on the wings where the jet’s fuel tanks are located, Qatar Airways argues that it is co-incident.
Details of the dispute
The feud between Airbus and Qatar has been ongoing for over a year, with both sides taking public blows at each other. Qatar noticed quality issues with the widebody back in early 2021, centered around the degradation of the jet’s paint, leading to the lightning mesh under the surface becoming exposed. The airline escalated its concerns, grounding 13 of its A350s in August to “ensure the continued safety of all passengers.”
At present, Qatar Airways has grounded 22 of its Airbus A350 aircraft over safety concerns. Photo: Qatar Airways
Reuters found that five other airlines had raised concerns about the issue, mainly citing cosmetic damage. However, at least one airline had noted that the wear had become so significant that the mesh had started developing gaps, too – exposing the bare fuselage to the elements.
Airbus clarified that the problem was ‘early surface wear,’ with the affected airlines agreeing it is a cosmetic problem and not a safety concern. A350 regulator, EASA, has not classified the defects as an airworthiness issue and has assured that the jet is airworthy.
The issue stems from the A350’s carbon fiber fuselage, which requires a mesh…