• Virgin Atlantic NYC flight canceled: passenger reports missing wing screws.
• Phil Hardy spots issue during safety briefing.
• Engineers confirm safety; flight resumes with maintenance.

In a recent incident at the Manchester Airport in the United Kingdom, a Virgin Atlantic flight bound for John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City was abruptly canceled following a vigilant passenger’s discovery of missing screws on the plane’s wing. ABC7 reported on Monday that the flight, designated as VS127, faced a safety concern that led to the grounding of the aircraft on January 15.

British traveler Phil Hardy, 41, became the key figure in this unexpected turn of events. During a routine safety briefing, Hardy noticed the absence of four fasteners on the wing and immediately brought it to the attention of the cabin crew. Despite reassurances from airline staff that the missing fasteners posed no threat to the wing’s safety, Hardy’s concerns grew, particularly in light of recent aviation incidents.

In response to Hardy’s report, engineers were summoned to inspect the Airbus A330 aircraft before its scheduled departure. Hardy documented the process, capturing footage of an engineer using a screwdriver to address the missing fasteners.

Virgin Atlantic, in a statement, clarified that the decision to cancel the flight was made to allow additional time for engineering maintenance checks, prioritizing the safety of both customers and crew. The airline representative emphasized that the safety of passengers was never compromised, stating, “We always work well above industry safety standards, and the aircraft is now back in service.”

According to Airbus local chief wing engineer Neil Firth, the affected panel was a secondary structure designed to enhance the plane’s aerodynamics. Each panel contains 119 fasteners, and the missing ones were confirmed not to impact the wing’s structural integrity or load capability.

Despite the disruption, Phil Hardy and his partner, Magdalena Bobusia, eventually reached their destination in New York City after being rebooked on another flight. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of rigorous safety measures in the aviation industry, even for seemingly minor issues such as missing fasteners.

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