Delta Air Lines Becomes Latest To Find Parts With Fake Safety Records

Delta Air Lines has been caught up in the AOG Technics scandal after revealing parts with false safety certificates were used on a number of its engines. As many as 20 of its engines could have been affected.

Delta engines used false parts

As first reported by Bloomberg, the Atlanta-based carrier said “a small number” of its aircraft were serviced with parts with falsified safety records, becoming the fourth major US carrier affected by the fraudulent components. The aircraft parts were supplied by UK-based company AOG Technics and discovered by a third-party service provider.

Delta said in a statement,

“Delta has been informed by one of our engine service providers that a small number of engines they overhauled for us contain certain parts that do not meet documentation requirements.”

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

While it did not detail which aircraft or how many were affected, a Delta spokesperson said the parts were found on less than 1% of more than 2,100 engines in its fleet, meaning up to 21 engines could have been fitted with the unauthorized components. Three other major US carriers – American, Southwest and United – have discovered the parts within their fleets as the industry races to track down affected aircraft.

Engines grounded and parts replaced

All Delta aircraft with the suspect parts have been grounded, and the airline is working to replace the components immediately. CFM claims that the majority of unauthorized parts are considered less critical – such as bolts, nuts, seals and bushings – and that no “life-limited parts” have been uncovered so far.

Delta said,

“Working with the overhaul provider, we are in the process of replacing those parts and remain in compliance with all FAA guidelines.”

The spokesperson added that none of the affected aircraft are currently in service, and its operations haven’t been impacted by the discovery.

CFM bought faulty parts

As reported by Reuters, CFM International said on Wednesday that the number of engines containing the parts has risen from 96 to 126. On top of this, the engine maker unknowingly bought bogus parts for use within its own workshops on four different occasions, affecting 16 engines. CFM said in a statement,

“One instance was through CFM Materials. The other three involved indirect purchases from suppliers who sourced material with falsified forms from AOG and unknowingly sold it to CFM.”

Photo: orso bianco / Shutterstock

AOG Technics is accused of falsifying safety documentation for aircraft parts, with CFM claiming thousands of affected components may have been sold – the company is now under investigation and has been ordered to hand over its records, a process which is still ongoing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently revealed that AOG Technics had also sold parts for General Electric CF6 engines without proper approval.

Has your confidence in aviation safety been affected by the AOG Technics spare parts scandal? Let us know in the comments.

Source: Bloomberg, Reuters