Qatar Airways grounds 13 Airbus A350s

Doha: Qatar Airways has grounded 13 Airbus A350 planes due a faster than expected deterioration of the fuselage surface below the paint on the jets.

In addition to its regular checks to ensure the continued safety and security of its passengers and aircraft, Qatar Airways continues to closely monitor the significant condition across its Airbus A350 fleet in which the fuselage surface below the paint is degrading at an accelerated rate, the airlines said in a statement. The airline is working with its regulator to ensure the continued safety of all passengers and on this basis, and following the explicit written instruction of its regulator, thirteen aircraft have now been grounded, effectively removing them from service until such time as the root cause can be established and a satisfactory solution made available to permanently correct the underlying condition.