Summary
- UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) raided AOG Technics office and arrested one individual in an investigation into the fraudulent aircraft part scandal.
- SFO worked closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and global regulators to find out the extent of the fraud and potential consequences.
- Several airlines, including, most recently, Ryanair, have discovered fake CFM56 parts on their aircraft.
The UK (UK) Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has raided the offices of AOG Technics, the corporate that was on the epicenter of the fraudulent aircraft part scandal globally, as a part of the launch of a brand new investigation into the matter. The SFO also arrested one individual connected to the case.
Raid and arrest at AOG Technics
The SFO announced its actions on December 6, 2023. Based on the office, officers from the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) seized materials from a site in London, the UK, with one individual questioned by the authorities. In a press release, Nick Ephgrave, the Director at SFO, said that this investigation is coping with ” with potentially far-reaching consequences.
The office has also noted that it’s working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and other aviation regulators globally to
Over the past few months, the CAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and the US (US) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have issued warnings about fake parts found on the CFM International CFM56 engine, which powers Airbus A320, A340, and Boeing 737 business aircraft.
EASA Claims Supplier Faked Certification & Distributed Unapproved Parts For CFM56 Engines
CFM56 engines power popular Airbus A320ceo and Boeing 737ng aircraft.
Based on the SFO, parts of the engine were mostly sold outside of the UK to firms that install these parts and to UK-based airlines, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO), and part supply organizations. The UK Corporations House data showed that AOG Technic’s latest accounts were filed for the period until February 2023, indicating that the corporate had GBP2.4 million ($3 million) net current assets, with the director, J. Zamora Yrala, signing the document in September 2023. In late October 2023, the corporate’s office address modified, moving to a different location inside London, the UK.
Photo: orso bianco | Shutterstock
Affected airlines
Several airlines across the globe have come out with statements that they found fake CFM56 parts on their aircraft. Most recently, Michael O’Leary, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ryanair Group, told Bloomberg that the low-cost carrier found fake parts on its aircraft. Based on ch-aviation data, out of the 799 aircraft operated by the group, which incorporates Ryanair, Buzz, and Malta Air, 426 aircraft are powered by the CFM56 engine. Out of those, 19 are stored or are in maintenance.
Photo: Craig Larsen | Boeing
Ryanair Discovers Unapproved Parts In Some Of Its Boeing 737 Engines
The Irish carrier became the most recent victim of receiving uncertified engine components.
EASA initially warned about fake parts in August 2023. On the time, the regulator issued a Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUP) notice to airlines, lessors, MROs, and parts suppliers about potential SUPs distributed by AOG Technics. The authority urged any potentially affected parties to examine their records to find out whether any parts, supplied by the UK-based company, could have ended up of their inventories.
More Than Half Of CFM Engines With Fake Parts Have Been Removed From Service
An intensive review found that 145 engines were fitted with uncertified parts.