What happened
During a flight from Perth, Western Australia, to Kuala and Lumpur, Malaysia, an Airbus A330 operated by AirAsia X experienced a mechanical failure in its left engine. A blade from the low-pressure compressor (fan) fractured, which subsequently disrupted the engine's normal operation. Upon detecting the issue, the flight crew executed the required engine stall procedures and successfully shut down the engine. Following the shutdown, the crew decided to divert the aircraft back to Perth. This decision to return to the departure airport was deemed appropriate based on the aircraft's position, the status of nearby aerodromes, and the operator's established procedures.
The investigation
Because the diversion to Perth was handled in accordance with safety protocols and the aircraft's location, the investigation focused specifically on the mechanical origin of the engine malfunction. The analysis centered on the circumstances and physical factors that led to the failure of the low-pressure compressor blade within the engine of aircraft 9M-XXE.