GE Aerospace To Assist Investigation Into Boeing 747 'Engine Failure' After Midflight Fire

General Electric GE said on Friday that it was providing assistance with investigations into the malfunction of one of its engines on a Boeing 747 cargo plane that forced the pilot into an emergency landing after the crew reported “an engine failure.”

The Boeing Inc BA 747-8, operated by cargo group Atlas Air and carrying five crew members, made an emergency landing at Miami International Airport after flames were seen to be shooting from the left wing.

The four GEnx-2B engines on the aircraft were manufactured by GE Aerospace, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric.

A spokesperson for the company told Benzinga: “Safety is our first priority, and GE Aerospace is providing technical assistance to our customer, the Federal Aviation Authority and the National Transportation Safety Board as they investigate the incident.”

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A spokesperson for Atlas Air said: “The crew followed all standard procedures and safely returned to MIA.” The company added that an internal investigation would be carried out to determine the cause of the malfunction.

U.S. air safety regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration, added: “Atlas Air Flight 95 returned safely to Miami International Airport around 10:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, Jan. 18, after the crew reported an engine failure. The FAA will investigate.”

Boeing said it was deferring comment to Atlas Air.

The Boeing 747 was just minutes into its flight from MIA, heading for Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico when the incident occurred.

Boeing’s reputation has already been dealt a severe blow this year following the Alaska Airline ALK incident on Jan. 6, when a plug door blew out in mid-flight.

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