Summary
- TUI has confirmed that AOG Technics supplied forged parts with safety paperwork, which has led to over 100 grounded aircraft at various airlines worldwide.
- The carrier has conducted a full audit and found no dubious parts on its engines, and AOG Technics has been removed from its approved supplier list.
- CFM International, the engine manufacturer, has identified 95 falsified documents and 126 suspected engines fitted with false parts, leading to a legal battle with AOG Technics.
Europe’s leading package holiday airline, TUI, is the latest to fall victim to the scandal grounding planes worldwide. AOG Technics, a London-based company, has allegedly supplied parts with forged safety paperwork, which has already grounded over 100 aircraft across the globe.
TUI has since confirmed that AOG Technics supplied components on one of its aircraft, and the part has since been removed. The charter airline has also reaffirmed that AOG will no longer be a preferred supplier for TUI.
Photo: Z. Jacobs | Shutterstock
Since the forgery was identified by a Portuguese repair shop earlier in the year, EU and UK regulators have warned airlines about the unapproved parts being distributed by AOG.
TUI is safe
Concerned about putting off passengers given the latest scandal, has come out reaffirming that a full audit has taken place to ensure the safety and maintenance of all TUI aircraft, further noting that all supplied parts from AOG Technics are now not present in the TUI Airways fleet.
As reported by Aerotime, TUI confirmed to the media outlet directly that after a full audit, the ‘airline found no dubious parts on its engines. ‘ The airline spokesperson explained:
“We’re aware of the issue surrounding parts being supplied by a particular agency and we would like to thank the CAA for their swift notification and support. We can confirm that one installed component was identified and quickly removed, and the company in question has been removed from our approved supplier list.”
Photo: TUI
The parts at the center of the drama revolve around the CFM56 engines, used on older versions of the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 jets, some of the most popular aircraft variants worldwide.
Going to the high court
CFM International manufactures the engines affected, having unwaveringly used the falsely certified AOG Technics parts. Confirming October 4th, CFM identified that 95 falsified documents were provided covering the CFM56 engines and two further records for the CF6.
According to CFM, as of October 4th, 126 engines were suspected of being fitted with false documented parts. However, the number appears to keep growing.
Photo: Yves Engels | Ostend-Bruges International Airport
AOG Technics now faces a stiff legal battle, with CFM meeting them in the High Court in London recently, as the FAA and European Safety Agency look into the dubious parts supplied. CFM released this statement:
“Safety is our first priority, and we are taking aggressive legal action against AOG Technics for selling unapproved aircraft engine parts with falsified airworthiness documentation. We remain united with the aviation community in working to keep unapproved parts out of the global supply chain.”
Simple Flying reached out to GE Aerospace, a joint partner with Safran Aircraft Engines, to build the CFM56 series. However, did not hear back by the time of publishing. This article will be updated should we receive a response.
Sources: The Independent, AeroTime