A probe by Hong Kong's aviation accident investigation agency revealed Cathay Pacific's Airbus A350 engine failed in-flight due to a ruptured fuel hose which also showed signs of a fire, the agency's report stated on Thursday.

Hong Kong aviation investigators say an engine problem that caused Cathay Pacific to ground its entire fleet of Airbus A350 jets for inspection earlier this month could have escalated into “extensive damage.

Investigators have found that a ruptured fuel manifold hose on the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine of a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 led to an in-flight engine fire that could have caused "extensive damage" if not addressed promptly.