A China Eastern Airbus A330-300, registration B-8970 performing flight MU-721 from Shanghai Hongquiao to Hong Kong (China), was enroute at 10400 meters (about FL341) about 30nm north of Xiamen (China) when the left hand engine (Trent 772) suffered the separation of one and a half of the fan blades ejecting the fan blades through the top of the engine. The aircraft suffered from severe vibration afterwards until landing on Xiamen’s runway 05 about 19 minutes after leaving 10400 meters.
Passengers reported there was a loud bang from the left hand engine, then there were severe vibrations throughout the remainder of the flight associated with sounds like a tractor and strong burning smell. Passengers at the left hand windows shouted that the left engine was broken. The crew announced there was a malfunction of the aircraft and they were diverting to Xiamen.
Source – The Aviation Herald
