The Brussels Airlines long-haul aircraft, which experienced engine problems
last month, had another problem on Friday. The Airbus A330 had to return to
Brussels on its way to Rwanda.
 
The plane (OO-SFU) was departing from Zaventem towards the Rwandan capital
Kigali around noon, with two hours delay. Above Austria, however, reversed and
shortly before 14 o'clock the aircraft landed again at Brussels Airport.
 
'There was an error message on one of the computers and it has to be
examined', explains Maaike Andries, spokesperson for Brussels Airlines. She
emphasizes that there was no safety risk. 'There are different computer
systems and the error message only occurred on one computer.'
 
According to the company, there is no connection with the engine problems of
the same aircraft on a Kinshasa-Brussels flight on 11 December. During that
flight, the two engines flamed out at different times.
 
Tests showed that the problem with the left engine was computer-related, and
that the right engine failed after a 'kerosene contamination'. Research into
the source of that impure kerosene is still ongoing. The aircraft then stayed
on the ground for more than two weeks, until the end of December.
 
A solution is sought as quickly as possible for the 182 passengers on board
the Kigali flight. A part can leave on Friday with another company, another
part will be able to board a plane on Saturday. For the latter, a hotel is
taken care of, says Brussels Airlines.

--- D'Bridge 3.99 SR41
 * Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)