Qantas Airways Ltd. and engine makers Rolls-Royce Group Plc with Airbus SAS have started an investigation of the malfunctioning plane engine that put 459 people in danger yesterday.

Grounding its A380 superjumbo fleet due to the engine explosion, Qantas had stopped two flights coming from Los Angeles and one in Sydney.

The Qantas planes will be out of service for "as long as it takes," Chief Executive Officer Mr. Alan Joyce said at a press briefing in Sydney broadcast on Australian television.

Replacement planes consisting of 21 Boeing Co. 747-400s will be arranged for passengers, who would be advised at departure points, the company said.

Qantas A380s fly daily from Sydney to Los Angeles and three times a week from Melbourne. The aircraft also fly from Melbourne to London daily except Mondays and Sundays.

Qantas has another 14 A380s on order. Mr. Joyce said that these orders would not be affected by Thursday's incident.

Safety investigations will be conducted accordingly, Mr. Joyce has assured.

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