Created Saturday, Mar 4th 2023 20:54Z, last updated Saturday, Mar 4th 2023 20:54Z
An Edelweiss Airbus A340-300, registration HB-JMD performing flight
WK-50 )(dep Mar 1st) from Zurich (Switzerland) to Phuket (Thailand), performed a seemingly uneventful flight and concluded the flight with a safe landing on Phuket's runway 09 about 10.5 hours after departure from Zurich.
A post flight inspection revealed however, that a right hand slat access panel had separated in flight causing damage to the barrel cowl and tail cone of the right hand engine. The engine cowl and tail cone needs to be replaced, a slat access panel is being sent to Phuket, too.
According to information The Aviation Herald received the aircraft had just gone through an A-Check remaining on the ground for about 20 hours prior to departure. Preliminary investigation suggests screws were missing from the panel.
The airline reported as result of damaged parts of the casing the aircraft could not operate the return flight WK-51. 307 passengers were inconvenienced in Phuket. A replacement aircraft is going to position to Phuket in the evening of Mar 4th and bring the passengers to Zurich on Sunday (Mar 5th).
The hole after the missing slat panel and the engine damage:
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