A little-known UK business by the name of AOG Technics has been accused of a "deliberate, dishonest and sophisticated scheme” to supply unauthorised engine parts that ended up in Boeing (NYSE:BA) aircraft.
Lawyers of jet engine maker CFM International told the High Court on Wednesday how AOG potentially sold thousands of engine components using forged paperwork.
Barrister Matthew Reeve QC of Quadrant Chambers said there was "compelling documentary evidence that thousands of jet engine parts have been sold by (AOG) to airlines operating commercial aircraft fitted with the claimants' jet engines", according to Reuters reporters covering the case.
Judge Richard Meade ruled that AOG must disclose all invoices, certificates, purchase orders and shipment memos relating the the parts.
CFM, a subsidiary of General Electric (NYSE:NYSE:GE), manufactures the CFM56 turbofan aircraft engines which are found in previous-generation Boeing airlines including the Boeing 727 Classic.
Virgin Australia (ASX:VAH) briefly grounded two 737s after discovering their engines were fitted with unauthorised parts supplied by AOG.
US customers Southwest Airlines (NYSE:NYSE:LUV) and United Airlines also grounded some aircraft after finding unauthorised engine parts.
According to Companies House filings, AOG has one director by the name of Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, who is also listed as a director at Sunwave Solutions Ltd and Kensho Group, the former of which dissolved earlier this year.
Zamora Yrala’s nationality is listed as Venezuelan in some AOG company documents, and as British in some Sunwave company documents.
AOG has taken its website down, while Zamora Yrala does not have an active LinkedIn profile.
National Transportation Safety Board compiled by NBC in 2018 showed that unapproved aviation parts played a role in nearly two dozen crashes, killing seven passengers, between 2010 and 2018.