Earlier this week, a KLM Boeing 777-300ER experienced an engine failure about a hour after takeoff, forcing a hasty return to Amsterdam. At this point, it is not clear what prompted the engine failure.
KLM 777-300ER Bound For São Paulo Experiences Engine Failure After Takeoff
As noted by The Aviation Herald, on May 9, 2023, KLM flight 791 took off from Amsterdam (AMS) enroute for São Paulo, Brazil (GRU). During the initial climb, engine number one (the left engine) began to vibrate, though it was within an acceptable range. The flight climbed to 30,000 feet and proceeded across the English Channel and into English airspace.
Suddenly, the left engine failed. The flight turned around somewhere over Bristol, descended to 17,000 feet, and returned to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, where it landed safely. No injures were reported.
You might wonder why the aircraft returned all the way to Amsterdam when it could have diverted to a number of closer airports in England. The answer is three-fold. First, there were logistical concerns. KLM’s base is at AMS and it is from there KLM can best repair aircraft, obtain replacement aircraft, and offer other flight options to passengers. Second, and even more importantly, the lack of emergency landing demonstrates how safe the flight crew felt operating wtih only one engine. Yes, a plane can operate (and indeed, operate a great distance) on only one engine. Continuing to São Paulo would have been foolish, but the risk of losing the second engine was deemed low enough that the captain chose to go back. Finally, the aircraft had to dump fuel before landing, which took time.
The 777, registered under PH-BVR, is about eight years old. It is not clear what caused the engine failure, but the aircraft remains grounded in Amsterdam. Meanwhile, a replacement 777 was dispatched and KL791 departed for São Paulo once again in a new aircraft about six hours late.
CONCLUSION
A KLM 777-300ER returned to Amsterdam on Tuesday after an engine failure. KLM’s ETOPS-qualified 777 is specially designed to be able to operate with one engine if the other other goes out, so passengers were in little danger. Still, an engine failure is never something you want to experince.
Is it me or have engine failures been occurring more than usual lately?
Yeah, I agree. Must be the vaccines!
This comment stems from a place of true privilege and ignorance — to be able to joke about one of the greatest scandals in world history — that sent the entire populace into a fire of fear, confusion and trauma.
Did you forget that people killed themselves, loved ones died alone, peoples livelihoods were destroyed, human rights were stripped?
Said another way: Did you forget that people killed themselves, loved ones died alone, peoples livelihoods were destroyed, human rights were stripped??
Never mind that the fallout still continues today.
Perhaps you could shed some light on this question:
Is there a credible US-based study showing that any US vaccine is safe? The whole “vaccines are safe” narrative for the past 200 years is actually based on an assumption that all the vaccines are safe. There is actually no credible large-scale post-marketing study for any vaccine used in the US today that actually backs up this claim. It’s all based on faith in seriously flawed studies.
There isn’t a credible post-marketing objective epidemiological study for any vaccine in the US. Not a single one. Will keeping public health data private improve clinical outcomes? As Dr. Ryan Cole has often said, “You will never find what you don’t look for.”
–Blind faith in authority is a weird flex. Like I said, privilege and ignorance.
Are you suggesting Covid never existed or vaccines are a farce? Vaccines are not a cure, they are preventative measures. What that has to do with aircraft engine failure is moronic.
I didn’t bring it up, Lukas did, take it up with him. While some may joke about Russian Roulette, it’s not a laughing matter for those who die.
Vietri. If humour dies, humanity begins to die. Who are you to try to dictate what may be joked about and what may not be joked about? Get yourself to a shrink, please, you are apparently not in a healthy state.
Russian Roulette is not a joke. Y’all need the shrinks. Fools. There’s plenty of stories like this so FOH 🙂
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsHG-RYLsso/
It may have to do with the airplanes sitting idle during Covid. Nothing good can come from that.
Fuel dumping is always a bit concerning although I am sure everyone would say there is nothing to worry about. My town smelled like jet fuel or similar for a few days recently.. makes you wonder how much jet fuel we are ingesting as humans, if any.
Red states with their anti vaxxers have higher Covid death rates than Blue states. Thanks science!
Please back up this claim with evidence, and before you cite Florida, please make sure the date is age stratified.
I’m always left wondering when I read about these event why it is always reported as a BoeingXXX or and Airbus XXX when there is nothing wrong with the aircraft. The engine is the problem and they are chosen by the purchaser of the aircraft not the manufacturer. I’d be more concerned about that problem area when this happens.
You looked up the airframe but failed to detail who KLM get their engines drom.
General Electric GE90, Pratt & Whitney PW4000, or Rolls-Royce Trent 800 engine?
GE90 is the only engine offered on -300ER.
Made in the USA!?
Why is logistical convenience a consideration?
An engine can fail, so during on a single e fine for a minute longer than necessary is reckless.
Descending from 30,000′ takes time, as does dumping fuel if required, running checklists, etc. With an engine failure the crew are required to land at the nearest suitable airport, in this case strictly by distance that would have been in England. But by the time they were ready for landing, they may not have saved any time vs going back to home port. Sensible decision. Major benefits to returning to AMS if feasible.