Pratt & Whitney engine parts fall from United 777 during US flight

CHICAGO, Illinois - After engine parts fell onto a residential neighborhood in Denver, USA this weekend, Boeing Co. has recommended that airlines temporarily ground 777 aircraft using that engine.

The protective outer covering on a Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engine fell to the ground from the United Airlines 777 on Saturday.

Boeing officials noted that 69 777 jets are currently in service, while 59 are in storage due to low demand during the Covid pandemic.

While Boeing has suggested that airlines ground planes using this engine, the advice falls short of a worldwide grounding of the 777 with the Pratt and Whitney engine.

Only five airlines use the Pratt and Whitney PW4000 engines on their 777s. They include United, Japan Airlines Co Ltd (JAL), ANA Holdings, Asiana Airlines and Korean Air Lines.

Additionally, only ten percent of all 77s use this engine.

An initial inspection of the failed engine indicated that the damage was contained to the engine and did not harm the airplane.