Boeing has attracted a lot of attention with recent production glitches. Now difficulties in testing a new long-haul jet have also come to light.
Boeing has a new problem: The aircraft manufacturer is suspending test flights of the 777X model, which is already years late, after damage to the connection between the engine and the wings. During a scheduled inspection, it was discovered that a component “was not behaving as intended,” the company said.
The industry website “The Air Current” had previously reported that one of the connecting elements between the engine and the wing had broken on one of the 777-9 test aircraft. Before that, the aircraft had completed a flight from Hawaii lasting more than five hours. Cracks in the component were found on other 777-9 aircraft in the test fleet, it said, citing informed sources.
Boeing did not go into these details – but stressed that no flights with the other test aircraft were planned in the near future anyway. The affected component is only used in the 777-9. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been informed.
Boeing introduced the 777X as the successor to the widely used 777 in 2013 – it was originally supposed to go into service in 2020. Boeing recently postponed the date to 2025. The 777-9 is intended as a larger variant of the aircraft. Boeing is currently also waiting for the approval of new variants of its medium-haul jet, the 737 Max.
Source: Stern
