Regulator, Airbus issue software fix for A350 on explosion risk

BERLIN (Reuters) - European aviation safety authorities have issued an emergency directive for operators of the Airbus (Paris:AIR.PA - News) A350-900 long-haul aircraft to upload a software fix to prevent potential overheating of the hydraulic system and a risk of explosion.

Airbus has delivered over 100 of the aircraft so far, which is flown by airlines including Lufthansa (:LHAG.DE), Singapore Airlines (:SIAL.SI), Cathay Pacific (HKSE:0293.HK - News) and Qatar Airways.

In the directive, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said that an overheat failure mode of the hydraulic engine driven pump had been found, which could cause the temperature of the hydraulic fluid to rise fast.

If that is not noticed and corrected, it could, if combined with an inoperative fuel tank inerting system, lead to the fluid overheating uncontrollably, which could then in turn lead to the fuel-air mixture in the affected fuel tank igniting, EASA said.

Airbus said it had informed operators of the short-term software fix and was investigating whether further action was needed.

A spokesman for Lufthansa said the German flagship carrier was complying with the directive and did not expect any impact on its A350 fleet or operations.

(Reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Keith Weir)