Boeing, the American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells airplanes, has announced a temporary halt to the flight tests of its 777X model.
The decision came after the discovery of damage in a structure of one of the wide-body aircraft. The damage was found in a custom part that is located between the engine and the airplane structure. This discovery was made during a routine maintenance check, leading to the grounding of the three other 777-9 airplanes in the test fleet.
According to CNBC, Boeing has stated that no other flight testing was scheduled for the other aircraft. The company is currently in the process of replacing the damaged part and is keen on learning from the component. "Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready," Boeing said in a statement. The Federal Aviation Administration and the customers, who have ordered 481 of the 777X, have been informed about the situation.
The impact of this grounding and the associated issue on the certification and delivery of the new wide-body jetliners is yet to be determined. These jetliners are expected to be delivered in 2025, which is approximately five years behind schedule. The flight tests of the aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration began in July, marking a significant milestone.
This development comes at a time when Boeing's leaders, including new CEO Kelly Ortberg, are striving to steer the company past a safety crisis that began with a doorplug blowout at the start of the year. The company's commitment to safety and quality assurance is evident in its proactive response to the discovered damage, reflecting its dedication to uphold traditional values of responsibility and accountability.
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