A Hungary Airlines cargo aircraft bound for China was forced to return to Budapest Airport on Wednesday evening after its systems detected a possible engine vibration issue while the plane was flying over Romania.
Aircraft had to return due to mechanical issues
The Airbus A330-200F, registered as HA-LHU, was operating scheduled flight HUA115 to Zhengzhou when the warning appeared at around 6.30 PM local time in the airspace near Bucharest. The airline decided to abort the journey and return to its Budapest base.
The aircraft landed safely at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport shortly before 8 PM, according to information provided by Hungary Airlines. In response to an enquiry, the carrier confirmed that the cause of the warning was still being investigated and that the necessary technical inspections were under way.
The airline added that it was taking all necessary measures to restore its scheduled operations as soon as possible. No further details about the nature of the technical issue or any potential disruption to cargo deliveries were immediately available, writes AirPortal.hu.
Stay up-to-date with Hungary Weekly Briefing: subscribe on Substack!
What is Hungary Airlines?
Hungary Airlines specialises in air freight and was established in May 2021 under the name Universal Translink Airline Hungary Kft. The company has pursued closer aviation links between China and Central and Eastern Europe, seeking to capitalise on Hungary’s geographical position and Budapest’s potential as a regional cargo hub.
The carrier has previously cooperated with major Chinese aviation organisations, including China Zhejiang Airport Group and Shenzhen Airport Group, as part of the so-called Air Silk Road initiative. The company has also attracted attention through its ambitious fleet expansion plans.
During a recent visit to Beijing, Hungary Airlines signed a memorandum of understanding with Boeing concerning the potential acquisition of 100 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. According to Blikk, the proposed deal would represent a significant expansion of its planned fleet. Beyond increasing its existing cargo operations, the company has also indicated ambitions to explore passenger services in the longer term.
The immediate priority is establishing why the engine vibration warning appeared on Wednesday’s flight and completing the required technical checks before normal operations can resume. The aircraft’s safe return meant that the incident ended without an accident, although the investigation into the warning remains ongoing.
Read also: Ryanair expands Budapest base, but warns Hungarian government
