Date of Occurrence: 6 May 2025
Aircraft Type: Airbus A321-271NX (neo)
Registration: XA-VXR
Engines: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM
Operator: VivaAerobus
Flight Number: VB755
Route: Miami International Airport (MIA/KMIA) to Mérida International Airport (MID/MMMD)
Occupants: 215 (passengers and crew)
Location of Incident: ~90nm northwest of Havana, Cuba
Declared Emergency: No emergency declared publicly; engine failure reported
Landing Airport: Havana José Martí International Airport (HAV/MUHA)
Investigation Authority: DGAC Mexico; Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC) notified
Current Status: Aircraft on ground in Havana 41+ hours post-incident
Executive Summary
On 6 May 2025, VivaAerobus flight VB755, a scheduled passenger service from Miami to Mérida, experienced an in-flight engine failure while cruising at FL320 over the Florida Straits near Cuban airspace. The aircraft, an Airbus A321neo registered XA-VXR, powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW1133G-JM geared turbofan engines, suffered a loss of power in one engine approximately 90 nautical miles northwest of Havana.
The flight crew executed a precautionary engine shutdown and initiated a diversion to Havana José Martí International Airport. The aircraft landed without further incident on runway 06 approximately 35 minutes after the onset of the malfunction. No injuries were reported.
As of the latest updates, the aircraft remains grounded in Havana pending inspection and maintenance actions. No formal preliminary report has yet been released. The incident is being reviewed by maintenance authorities in coordination with Pratt & Whitney, VivaAerobus engineering, and Cuban civil aviation officials.
Flight and Crew Information
Flight Number: VB755
Date of Flight: 6 May 2025
Aircraft Type: Airbus A321-271NX (neo)
Registration: XA-VXR
MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number): [Not publicly disclosed]
Engines: 2 × PW1133G-JM geared turbofan engines
Departure Time: [Estimated local departure: around 10:00 EDT]
Cruising Altitude at Incident: FL320
Flight Crew: Two licensed pilots, including one captain and one first officer
Cabin Crew: [Undisclosed, standard A321 complement is 5 cabin crew]
Passengers: Estimated 205–210
Total Persons on Board: 215
Incident Sequence
Cruise Phase Over Western Caribbean
The aircraft had departed Miami International Airport on a standard route to Mérida, Mexico, climbing to a cruising altitude of 32,000 feet. Weather conditions were reportedly routine with no significant METAR warnings or convective activity in the area.
Approximately 90 nautical miles northwest of Havana, in the vicinity of Cuban-controlled FIR airspace, the flight crew identified an abnormal engine parameter on the aircraft’s Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring (ECAM) system.
Though specific ECAM warnings have not been publicly released, such conditions commonly include:
Engine oil pressure deviation Engine vibration levels exceeding normal limits Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) trending abnormally N1 or N2 rotor instability
The crew confirmed a performance issue with the right-hand engine (assumed) and executed a controlled engine shutdown following standard Airbus QRH (Quick Reference Handbook) checklist procedures for ENG FAIL or ENG SHUTDOWN IN FLIGHT.
Communication with ATC and Diversion Initiation
Upon confirming the engine had been safely shut down and secured, the flight crew elected to divert to Havana José Martí International Airport (MUHA/HAV) — the closest suitable airfield with full emergency services and technical support capabilities for narrowbody Airbus aircraft.
A PAN PAN call was not reported in open-source monitoring; however, ATC coordination was established with Havana ACC and approach controllers. The flight crew began a descent profile consistent with a single-engine operations glide path toward runway 06, factoring terrain, airspace constraints, and thrust asymmetry.
Aircraft Performance Under Single-Engine Conditions
The A321neo is certified for ETOPS-180 operations, enabling continued flight under single-engine conditions for up to three hours under specific fuel, terrain, and weather requirements. A shutdown of one PW1133G-JM engine at FL320 would reduce available thrust by approximately 50%, requiring:
Adjusted descent rate Optimized fuel flow on the operative engine Hydraulic and pneumatic systems to transfer to the operative side Electrical bus transfer (depending on generator load-sharing)
The aircraft’s flight control systems — including the fly-by-wire architecture — are designed to compensate for asymmetric thrust and maintain yaw stability via rudder deflection and autotrim. Airbus’ dual hydraulic circuits and electrical redundancies allow for stable descent and safe approach under one-engine operation.
Approach and Landing at Havana
The crew followed a stabilised approach to runway 06, which is 4,000 metres (13,123 feet) in length — sufficient for an A321neo performing a precautionary landing under partial power.
The aircraft:
Landed safely at Havana International (MUHA) Vacated the runway under own power Was met by airport fire and rescue units as a precaution Proceeded to an isolated stand for disembarkation and technical inspection
No emergency evacuation was conducted, and no injuries were reported among passengers or crew.
Engine Details – PW1133G-JM and Prior Context
The PW1133G-JM is part of Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan (GTF) PW1000G series, known for:
High bypass ratios Geared fan module enabling optimal turbine speeds Lower fuel burn and noise emissions Greater thermal operating margins
However, the GTF family has faced various operational challenges since entry into service, including:
Combustion chamber distress Oil system faults Bearing seal wear High-pressure compressor blade degradation
Pratt & Whitney has conducted multiple airworthiness directives (ADs) and service bulletins (SBs) targeting engine durability improvements, particularly for A321neo operators in high-cycle environments.
It is not yet confirmed whether XA-VXR’s engine had any deferred maintenance items, time-limited dispatch approvals, or was covered under ongoing P&W inspection campaigns.
Maintenance and Regulatory Follow-Up
As of 8 May 2025, VivaAerobus has not released an official statement. The aircraft remains on the ground at Havana International, where:
Engineers are conducting a full borescopic inspection of the affected engine Oil, fuel, and bleed air systems are being analysed Maintenance logs and digital fault recordings are under review The cause of the failure is being assessed in collaboration with Pratt & Whitney representatives
The incident has been logged with both the Mexican Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics (DGAC) and the Cuban Civil Aviation Institute (IACC).
If further fault data, component failure, or systemic issues are identified, a formal incident notification may be issued to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and EASA, as VivaAerobus operates aircraft compliant with European airworthiness standards.
Aircraft and Airline Profile
Airline: VivaAerobus
Fleet Size (A321neo): Over 40 A321neos in operation
Typical Seating: 239 passengers in high-density all-economy configuration
Base: Monterrey, Mexico
Aircraft Age (XA-VXR): Estimated between 1–3 years
Maintenance Partner: Internal MRO with P&W liaison
Certification: ETOPS-180, RVSM compliant, ADS-B equipped
Safety and Procedural Context
The safe execution of this diversion highlights key principles in modern flight safety:
Immediate crew response to engine anomalies using QRH protocols Effective ATC coordination for traffic management and rerouting Stabilised single-engine flight profiles enabled by Airbus design and pilot training Redundant systems ensuring continuous pressurisation, power, and control authority
At no point was passenger safety compromised, and VivaAerobus’ adherence to Airbus-recommended emergency handling procedures contributed to a routine diversion outcome under non-routine circumstances.
Conclusion
The engine shutdown and diversion involving VivaAerobus A321neo XA-VXR on 6 May 2025 represent a textbook execution of in-flight systems management and diversion planning. While the root cause of the engine failure is still under investigation, preliminary handling by the flight crew and support services ensured a controlled and safe resolution.
No injuries occurred, and the aircraft remains grounded for detailed inspection. Further developments will be disclosed pending maintenance findings and potential regulatory advisories from Pratt & Whitney and Mexican aviation authorities.
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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