Russian ABC freighter aborts takeoff in Shanghai after GEnx engine failure

RUSSIA's Volga-Dnepr subsidiary AirBridgeCargo aborted takeoff in Shanghai recently when its Boeing 747-8 freighter lost engine thrust, which has prompted an investigation of the engine by its US manufacturer, General Electric.

The failure follows an earlier incident this summer, involving the next-generation GEnx jet engine on a test passenger flight in Charleston, South Carolina, which resulted in a grass fire on the runway. In each case there was no impact or threat to the aircraft.

Although passenger aircraft with the engines have been inspected since the incident in July, the 12 other freighters have not. The incident was caused by a fan shaft failing which has resulted in new coating for shafts in the GE-manufactured engine.