The aviation industry has been thrown into turmoil as reports emerge of thousands of jet engine parts being supplied with fraudulent safety certificates. The discovery has led to major airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines grounding some of their planes while investigations into the matter are underway.
The scandal centers around a supplier named AOG Technics, which is accused of producing fake safety certificates in order to sell its engine parts to airlines. The company has also faced allegations of creating fake employees and using stock photos on LinkedIn, according to Bloomberg. Despite numerous attempts to contact AOG Technics, there has been no response.
The industry is now questioning the effectiveness of its safety oversight measures, as parts from AOG Technics have been found in 126 engines across multiple airlines. These parts are supposed to undergo strict safety testing and come with certificates that can trace their origins and inspection records.
However, both the Federal Aviation Administration and European investigators have alleged that AOG Technics forged its documentation, posing a serious threat in the event of a faulty part being used. The most affected engine model has been identified as the CFM56, which holds the record for the most engines ever sold to airlines at over 33,900. It is commonly used in popular passenger jets like the Boeing 737 MAX and the initial version of the Airbus A320.
The affected engine parts range from small components like screws and bolts to vital units responsible for propulsion, such as turbine blades. It has also been revealed that AOG Technics supplied some of these faulty parts to airlines through a joint venture with General Electric and Safran. As a result, both companies have launched a lawsuit against AOG Technics.
Following the revelations, major airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have pulled planes from their fleets, while Delta Airlines has also removed several engines from service. The airlines claim to have quickly identified and removed the parts certified by AOG Technics, which only make up a small portion of their overall engine components. They also assure passengers that their safety has not been compromised.
However, in the lawsuit filed by GE and Safran, it is alleged that AOG Technics used a large-scale falsification system to deceive airlines into purchasing its parts. The UK, where the company is registered, has ordered AOG Technics to turn over its parts sales documents, which could reveal the full extent of the scam.
It was also discovered that AOG Technics served as a middleman in the aviation industry, sourcing parts and selling them to maintenance and repair shops. The company was established in 2015, but numerous questionable practices have been uncovered, including the absence of any record of approvals for its parts. Additionally, the company’s founder, Jose Zamora Yrala, is the sole director and shareholder, and there have been reports of fake online profiles associated with the business.
GE and Safran have made it clear that their top priority is ensuring the safety of passengers, and the lawsuit is aimed at identifying and removing all falsified parts. They stress that any malfunction in these parts could have catastrophic consequences, considering the stress engines are put under during flights and the number of lives at risk.
The scandal has raised concerns about aircraft safety and the need for more robust safety measures in the industry. As investigations continue, it is expected that more details will emerge about the extent of the fraud and the potential harm it has caused. The industry must take steps to prevent such incidents from happening in the future, as the security and well-being of airline passengers are at stake.
