Azul’s Recife–Madrid flight grounded again after second flap issue with same Boeing 767
For the second time in a week, Azul Linhas Aéreas fails to complete inaugural Recife–Madrid flight The same aircraft suffered flap malfunctions, forcing a return to Recife after taking off over two hours late.
Azul Linhas Aéreas’ flight from Recife to Madrid experienced another technical issue on Thursday (June 12), involving the same aircraft that failed to complete its inaugural flight on Tuesday (June 10).
On the first attempt, the Boeing 767-300ER, registered CS-TSU and operated by Portuguese airline EuroAtlantic Airways—which Azul contracts for its international routes—suffered a flap malfunction shortly after takeoff from Recife during the debut flight to Madrid.
The aircraft had to perform several holding patterns over the Atlantic Ocean to burn fuel and reduce weight before returning safely to Recife. Although the landing was uneventful, observers noted glowing brake discs, a result of braking while near the maximum landing weight and with inoperative flaps, which required a higher approach and landing speed, according to Azul’s media partner AEROIN in Brazil.
With the unscheduled return of the 767, the inaugural flight to Madrid was canceled and rescheduled for Thursday, which was also intended to be the second operation on Azul’s new Madrid route. Meanwhile, the Recife–Porto route, also assigned to the same EuroAtlantic aircraft, was operated on Wednesday (June 11) by an Azul Airbus A330-900neo, registration PR-ANY.
Azul also launched its Campinas–Madrid route on Tuesday.
On Thursday, the same Boeing 767 departed Recife for Madrid with a 2-hour and 15-minute delay. Shortly after its 11:12 p.m. departure, the aircraft climbed only to 6,000 feet before it apparently experienced another flap issue, forcing yet another return to Recife, as confirmed by flight tracking platform AirNavRadar.
The aircraft finally landed at 2:37 a.m. local time (5:37 GMT).
AUTOR
Contando la aviación desde marzo del año 2000. Fundador y Managing Editor de Aviacionline. Base: ROS Origen: RES
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