Rolls loses £56m after engine blow

The Derby-based group said the blow contributed to a 20 per cent fall in underlying profits at its civil aerospace arm last year.

Rolls faced a reputational crisis last November when one of its engines exploded and forced an A380 superjumbo into an emergency landing.

The group said today a “rapid and effective response” from all involved helped it identify the fault and return to normal service within weeks.

It said the bulk of the associated costs had now been taken, although it said further “modest” costs may be seen this year.

The woes did not hold back profits growth in the wider business, with underlying pre-tax profits up four per cent to £955m in 2010.