Virgin Atlantic’s VS127 flight from Manchester Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport, scheduled for Monday, January 15, was cancelled just before takeoff. The cancellation followed a passenger’s discovery of missing bolts on the aircraft’s wing, prompting the crew to halt the flight for safety checks.
Virgin Atlantic flight from Manchester to New York halted moments before take off after a PASSENGER spotted parts missing from the wing. https://t.co/hjuIireEVj
— CJ4America2 (@GrammyC4Zone2) January 19, 2024
During pre-flight procedures, a vigilant passenger reported that the tops of four fasteners were absent from a panel on the wing of the Airbus A330. This discovery led to immediate action by the airline, with specialist engineers conducting thorough maintenance checks. Virgin Atlantic emphasized the importance of these measures, stating it was a ‘precautionary measure’ to ensure the complete safety of the aircraft.
Virgin Atlantic Emphasizes Safety, Replaces Missing Fastener Tops
Experts clarified that the missing fastener tops, from a total of 119 on each wing panel, did not compromise the structural integrity or load capability of the wing. Additionally, they confirmed that the aircraft’s operational safety was not at risk. The panel in question is a secondary structure designed to enhance the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft.
Despite assurances of no immediate safety threat, the flight was still cancelled to allow engineers ample time to conduct all necessary checks and replace the missing components. Virgin Atlantic reiterated its commitment to safety, stating, “The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority and was not compromised at any point.”
Recent Emergency Landing Incident Adds to Virgin Atlantic's Challenging Week
Passengers affected by the cancellation were accommodated on alternate flights to their destination. The airline confirmed that the aircraft involved in the incident is now back in service after the successful completion of all safety checks.
This incident occurred just days after another Virgin Atlantic flight, bound for Barbados, made an emergency landing at Manchester Airport due to a ‘technical issue’ that resulted in the cockpit reportedly ‘filling with smoke. The airline addressed this separate event, apologizing for the inconvenience caused to passengers.