A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A350K scheduled to operate flight VS26 from New York JFK to London Heathrow was cancelled after a ground service vehicle struck the plane.
The incident, which occurred at the gate, involved a catering truck that “rolled into” the engine cowling of the stationary aircraft, according to Virgin Atlantic. The airline confirmed in a statement that no passengers were on board at the time.
Today’s VS26 from New York JFK to London Heathrow has been canceled following an incident at the gate at JFK involving the engine cowling of a stationary Virgin Atlantic aircraft and a catering service provider’s car that rolled into it. We can confirm that no customers were on board the aircraft during this time.
Virgin Atlantic Spokesperson
The extent of the damage to the engine is currently unknown. Virgin Atlantic is investigating the incident and has not yet announced when the flight will be rescheduled.
The aircraft G-VDOT is an Airbus A350-1000 which is 7 years old. It arrived from London Heathrow on flight #VS25 and landed at 22:37 EDT.
Engine cowlings are the outer shells that enclose the aircraft’s jet engines. They are crucial for streamlining airflow into the engine and reducing noise. Damage to the cowling can potentially affect engine performance and require repairs before the aircraft can return to service.