A Cebu Pacific Airbus A330-300, registration RP-C3343 performing flight 5J-15 (dep Jun 28th) from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Manila (Philippines) with 347 people on board, was enroute at FL340 about 180nm east of Mumbai (India) when the crew decided to turn around and divert to Mumbai due to problems with an engine (Trent 772). The aircraft landed safely on Mumbai’s runway 27 about 30 minutes later.
Passengers reported the crew indicated engine problems, without further specification, as cause for their diversion to Mumbai. Fellow passengers observed streaks of flame from the engine. After landing the passengers were initially kept on board for a couple of hours while attempts to “fix” the engine were underway, finally passengers were provided with a meal, more a snack, and after about 7 hours on board of the aircraft disembarked and after another long wait to clear India immigration finally were taken to a hotel. Passengers report they were still in Mumbai two days later.
The airline reported that 252 passengers were taken to Manila on flights by other carriers in the meantime, the remaining passengers are estimated to arrive in Manila by Jul 2nd 2016.
The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Mumbai about 86 hours after landing.
The Aviation Herald
Cebu Pacific Air Airbus A330-343 has engine problem
