Flight Details
Aircraft Type: Airbus A330-243 Operator: Air Transat Registration: C-GUBC Flight Number: TS803 Route: Cayo Coco Airport (CCC), Cuba to Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Canada Date of Incident: 19 April 2025 Total Occupants: Not specified; typical A330-200 seating around 280–330 passengers Weather Conditions: Normal enroute weather conditions reported
Introduction
On 19 April 2025, an Air Transat Airbus A330-200 operating flight TS803 from Cayo Coco to Toronto experienced an engine lubrication failure while cruising at FL390 (39,000 feet) over the southeastern United States. Following indications of low oil quantity and oil pressure on one of its Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engines, the crew performed a precautionary in-flight engine shutdown and diverted to Orlando International Airport for a safe landing.
A replacement aircraft was dispatched to complete the flight to Toronto, with passengers reaching their destination approximately 11 hours late. The occurrence aircraft remained grounded for several days for inspection and repairs.
Sequence of Events
Flight TS803 departed Cayo Coco on schedule, climbing normally to cruising altitude. While established at FL390 approximately 150 nautical miles east-southeast of Orlando, the flight crew received a low oil quantity warning for one of the two engines.
Following Airbus standard operating procedures, the crew monitored system parameters. A short time later, a low oil pressure warning was also triggered on the same engine, escalating the seriousness of the situation.
In accordance with Airbus and Rolls-Royce procedures, the crew:
Throttled back the affected engine Executed the engine shutdown checklist to secure the engine Communicated with ATC to declare a non-emergency diversion (no immediate MAYDAY issued) Requested vectors for an immediate diversion to Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The aircraft initiated a single-engine descent and approach, landing safely on runway 18R approximately 40 minutes after the initial indication.
The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) confirmed the event but did not specify whether the left or right engine was affected.
Crew & Communication
The flight crew demonstrated textbook compliance with abnormal engine procedures, managing the aircraft safely on a single operating engine without declaring a MAYDAY, which indicates that the situation remained under full control.
ATC coordination ensured an expedited, but orderly, descent and approach. No unusual handling difficulties or instability were reported during the single-engine landing sequence.
Cabin crew would have been alerted to prepare the cabin for precautionary landing, though no emergency evacuation was necessary upon arrival.
Aircraft Systems & Technical Analysis
The Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engine installed on the A330-200 is known for robust reliability; however, any loss of lubrication integrity presents serious operational risks, including:
Oil starvation leading to bearing or gearbox failure Risk of core seizure if continued operation without lubrication Potential uncontained engine failure if not properly secured
The sequence of warnings—low oil quantity first, followed by low oil pressure—is consistent with:
Oil leak in an external line, connection, or fitting Oil reservoir depletion due to seal failure or system breach Oil scavenging system failure preventing return flow to the oil tank
Given that no fire warning or secondary damage was reported, and that the shutdown was controlled, it suggests that:
The leak or depletion was progressive rather than catastrophic No engine disintegration or fire event occurred
Post-incident, maintenance teams would have:
Performed borescope inspections of the affected engine’s internal stages Examined external plumbing, oil reservoirs, and lubrication circuits Drained and sampled residual oil for contamination analysis Conducted pressure tests of oil feed and scavenge systems
The aircraft remained on the ground in Orlando until 22 April 2025, then flew repositioning flight TS14 back to Toronto, but has not resumed regular service as of 26 April 2025, indicating ongoing maintenance, parts replacement, or deeper inspection work.
Passenger Experience & Cabin Conditions
The diversion was managed calmly and efficiently, with passengers informed of a technical issue necessitating a precautionary landing. There were no reports of smoke, vibration, or emergency cabin conditions.
Passengers were disembarked safely in Orlando and rebooked onto a replacement flight, operated by Air Transat’s Airbus A330-200 registration C-GPTS, reaching Toronto with an 11-hour delay.
Emergency Response & Aftermath
No emergency evacuation was required. Orlando International Airport operations provided routine assistance for a precautionary landing with a disabled engine, involving normal tow procedures if needed.
The occurrence aircraft was inspected by Air Transat’s contracted maintenance providers in Orlando, with oversight by Canadian maintenance quality assurance representatives. Given the nature of engine-related incidents, Rolls-Royce may have been involved in technical assessment.
Investigation Status
The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) acknowledged the incident but has not initiated a formal public investigation, consistent with procedures for non-catastrophic in-flight shutdowns where containment was maintained and no injuries occurred.
However, Air Transat will likely conduct a full internal investigation, reviewing:
Engine health monitoring (EHM) data prior to the incident Flight data recorder (FDR) outputs specific to oil system parameters Oil system maintenance history for trends or anomalies
Root Cause & Contributing Factors (Preliminary)
Primary Cause:
Loss of oil quantity and subsequent loss of oil pressure in one Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engine, necessitating shutdown.
Contributing Factors:
Possible minor leak in oil lines, reservoirs, or scavenge systems Potential mechanical failure of internal oil seal or valve No prior EHM alerts detected significant degradation pre-flight (pending full review)
Safety Recommendations & Industry Impact
This event highlights continued industry vigilance in the following areas:
Ensuring rapid crew response to oil system warnings, prioritising engine shutdown where necessary Importance of predictive maintenance programs to catch minor leaks or seal degradation before they evolve into operational incidents Reinforcement of crew familiarity with single-engine diversion procedures, particularly on widebody aircraft operating over remote or oceanic regions
Rolls-Royce and Airbus may issue precautionary checks or Service Bulletins (SBs) if patterns of oil loss incidents emerge.
Conclusion
Air Transat flight TS803’s diversion to Orlando following a low oil quantity and pressure warning represents a well-managed in-flight shutdown scenario, with the crew taking appropriate steps to preserve safety. The incident highlights the criticality of early detection, cautious operational decision-making, and adherence to engine manufacturer procedures when managing engine lubrication anomalies at altitude.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information and reports at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, we cannot guarantee the completeness of the information provided.
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