Airlines have been ordered to inspect their planes after US manufacturer Boeing issued a worldwide alert over a potentially faulty fuel pump that could cause an explosion.
Nearly 1,500 American jets are to be checked amid fears that wiring on pumps placed too near a rotor could chafe, producing sparks and igniting fumes from highly flammable aircraft fuel.
The devices, which are located in the central fuel tank under the fuselage and also in wing tanks, are made by Hydro-Aire Inc in California and were installed on Boeing 737s, 747s and 757s in January and April.
Aer Lingus said the warning did not apply to its aircraft. The warning applied specifically to the 600, 700 and 800 models, while the Aer Lingus fleet comprises 400 and 500 models.
Ryanair said the warning applied to only three of the company’s 23 Boeing 737 aircraft and it had immediately compiled with the request from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
No serious incidents have been reported so far but British low-cost airline easyJet was one of three carriers to raise the alarm.
EasyJet, which returned a pump from one of its 737-700s to the manufacturers earlier this month after a pilot complained of low pressure in the tank, today said it was complying fully with Boeing's safety directive.
But a spokesman said that it was not yet clear whether the problem was connected.
In the US, the FAA said that a total of 1,250 pumps could be affected, although some may not even be fitted on planes but may be being stored as spare parts.
The FAA's emergency order compels US airlines to inspect 515 737s, 247 747s and 678 757s to see if they were using the suspect "Model-4" fuel pump.
In 1996, the US National Transportation Safety Board ruled that an explosion in the centre fuel tank of TWA Flight 800 caused it to crash off the coast of Long Island in 1996.
It said vapours in the nearly empty tank probably were ignited by a spark in wiring.
The Paris-bound Boeing 747 exploded in a fireball at 13,700ft, minutes after leaving John F Kennedy International Airport. All 230 people on board were killed.
PA