The bulletin
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FAA Aviation Safety
SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Theft of Turbofan Engine Parts before Mutilation SAIB: 2026-11 Date: June 8, 2026 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) alerts owners, operators, and maintainers of airplanes with CFM International, S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B; International Aero Engines AG (IAE AG) V2500; International Aero Engines LLC (IAE LLC) PW1100G; Rolls- Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) RB211-535E4 engines about a concern related to the theft of turbofan engine parts before mutilation.
At this time, the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.
Background
This SAIB was prompted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) being informed that, in late January 2026, a third party impersonated a contracted mutilation provider and intercepted 12 containers of non-airworthy turbofan engine parts that were destined for destruction. The Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA) detected the fraudulent rerouting and officially reported the theft to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on March 17, 2026. Spanish law enforcement agencies (Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil) are leading the criminal investigation, with AESA serving as the primary technical and reporting authority.
The stolen shipment contained 625 serialized parts, including critical engine components and Life Limited Parts (LLP), plus 9,740 non-serialized parts across four engine families: CFM56, V2500, PW1100G, and RB211. None of these parts have been mutilated as intended. Because these parts were formally declared non-airworthy, they are unauthorized and potentially unsafe for flight. If installed on aircraft, they could pose serious safety hazards including LLP overfly and potential engine uncontainment events.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends that operators, maintenance organizations, repair stations, and parts suppliers take the following actions:
1. Review EASA Alert Reference EASA alert OC-EASA-2026002221 regarding the theft of turbofan engine parts before mutilation, available at:
- https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/aircraft-products/suspected-unapproved-parts/theftturbofan-engine-parts-mutilation
- https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/143427/en
- https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/143445/en
2. Subscribe to Unapproved Parts Notifications via email to receive timely alerts about unapproved parts entering the supply chain.
- https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USAFAA/subscriber/new
3. Verify Part Documentation and Traceability
- Exercise heightened scrutiny when procuring parts for the affected engine models
- Verify the complete chain of custody for all serialized and non-serialized parts
- Cross-reference serial numbers against the lists provided in the EASA alert
- Be particularly vigilant regarding LLPs and critical engine components
4. Implement Enhanced Supplier Evaluation Procedures Reference FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 21-29D, "Detecting and Reporting Suspected Unapproved Parts." Section 5 of this AC provides guidance on the detection of Suspected Unapproved Parts (SUPs) and provides numerous criteria for:
- Supplier Evaluations
- Procurement Process
- Receiving Inspection
5. Review Manufacturer Communications Review all operational wires issued by CFM, RRD and Pratt & Whitney (IAE LLC or IAE AG) to airline customers and MROs regarding this incident.
6. Report Suspected Unapproved Parts Immediately report any suspected unapproved parts to the FAA and local aviation authorities.
Contact the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service if you identify any parts matching the descriptions or serial numbers from the stolen shipment.
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the collection of information. The OMB control number is 2120-0731.
For Further Information Contact
Stephen Elwin, Senior Engineer, AIR-525, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
(781) 238-7236; email: Stephen.L.Elwin@faa.gov.
Registered aircraft it may concern
Registry models matched by CFM International CFM56-5B1, CFM56-5B1/2, CFM56-5B1/2P and 137 more, the same way as ADs, with the most registered aircraft first.