PAL fleet unaffected by FAA probe on US jet engine failure


The Philippine Airlines (PAL) has assured the public that all of its aircraft are fully-maintaned and safe, on top of having what it described as among the best pilots in the world.

PAL came out with this statement after dozens of Boeing 777 widebody aircraft were grounded around the world on the heels of the jet engine failure on a United Airlines flight in Denver, Colorado.

One of the engines of United Airlines flight 328 spewed flames and parts of the engine were seen falling just minutes after take off from Denver International Airport. The plane, bound for Honolulu, carried 241 passengers on board.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommended grounding Boeing 777 planes with the involved Pratt & Whitney 400-112 engines while they were investigating the incident.

Cielo Villaluna, spokesperson of flag carrier PAL, said they do not have Boeing 777s with Pratt & Whitney engines in service. Instead, what they do have is the Boeing 777-300, which is powered by a different type of engine.

"Our Boeing 777-300 engines are made of GE90 and not the Pratt & Whitney engine which the FAA grounded," Villaluna said