A major pilots union has flagged a cockpit defect causing uncommanded engine shutdowns across multiple Airbus models. The issue, traced to a faulty control panel component, first appeared on an A320neo and later an A350. Regulators have expanded inspections after confirming the same flaw affects both aircraft families.
The problem began in December 2024 when an Air New Zealand A320neo lost an engine shortly after takeoff due to a bent retaining pin in a fire shutoff switch. Investigators found the same component caused a similar event on a British Airways A350-1000 over Canada. Both incidents involved unintended activation during normal flight, prompting EASA to broaden its airworthiness directives beyond the original A320-family scope.
EASA now requires inspections for A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft using the same integrated control panels. The agency’s revised directive follows Airbus service bulletins and reflects growing concern that the defect is not isolated to one aircraft family. Airlines operating affected models must comply with inspection mandates to prevent future uncommanded shutdowns during flight operations.
Travelers may face delays or diversions if airlines ground planes for mandatory inspections. Uncommanded engine shutdowns mid-flight, while rare, pose serious safety risks and could trigger regulatory grounding until fixes are verified across fleets.
