Airbus’s Most Important Aircraft Can’t Shake Its Teething Problems

Indian airline says Pratt-powered A320s had to turn around
Pratt & Whitney continues to struggle with seals on turbofan

A model of an Airbus SE A320 aircraft sits on display at company's booth during the Aero India air show at Air Force Station Yelahanka in Bengaluru, India, on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. More than 750 global and Indian companies will attend the international show which runs through Feb. 18.Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/Bloomberg

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Anurag Kotoky, Benjamin D Katz, and Rick Clough

February 11, 2018 at 8:39 PM UTC

Updated on

February 12, 2018 at 4:06 AM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Airbus SE’s most important aircraft just can’t shake its teething problems.

The European manufacturer has been forced to suspend some deliveries of its A320neo jet following another issue with the engines supplied by Pratt & Whitney. IndiGo, the Indian low-cost airline that’s the plane’s biggest customer, on Sunday disclosed three in-flight shutdowns, and said pilots have had to turn back before taking off in three other instances -- an alarming new problem for a Pratt power plant that’s been hobbled by glitches from the start.