Engine Failed During Ground Testing In Mirabel, Quebec

Bombardier has confirmed that late Thursday there was an engine-related incident during stationary ground maintenance testing involving the CSeries FTV1 aircraft at its facility in Mirabel, Quebec.

No one was injured when the engine failed. Bombardier is investigating the incident with the support of Pratt & Whitney and the appropriate authorities. Safety is the priority, and the CSeries aircraft flight test program will resume once the investigation is completed.

Bombardier's CSeries medium-range narrow-body airliner was supposed to have been in service in 2012. But flight testing did not begin until last fall, while the company works to sell the airliner in a segment dominated by Boeing and Airbus.

Aviation Analyst David Tynerman told the CBC that this incident could delay certification of the of the airplane and could postpone orders, which have been sluggish given delays in the development of the airliner.

Bombardier said that it is still "focused" on delivering the CSeries airliner to customers in 2015.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.bombardier.com