World

New defect found in Airbus A380 engines

22:28 pm on 2 December 2010

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has issued a new safety warning over Airbus A380 engines after discovering a manufacturing defect.

The warning comes ahead of the bureau's report into the mid-air engine failure of a Qantas flight over Indonesia on 4 November.

The A380 plane was forced to land in Singapore after one of its engines exploded over Batam Island.

The manufacturing defect relates to an oil tube connection and could lead to fatigue cracking, oil leakage and potential engine failure from an oil fire, the ABC reports.

The bureau says the fault was identified in the past day and is urging airlines using A380s to examine them immediately. It is not clear how many of the engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce are affected.

Qantas spokesperson Olivia Worth says the airline has begun inspections using 3D imaging and will work with Rolls-Royce to determine what is going on.

Qantas says it does not anticipate any disruptions to its international services at this stage.

The ATSB will deliver its preliminary report on Friday into the mid-air drama.