Global site navigation

Boeing suspends 777X flight tests after part failure
Business and Economy

Boeing suspends 777X flight tests after part failure

by  AFP 2 min read
Boeing has been beset in recent years with concerns about safety and quality control
Boeing has been beset in recent years with concerns about safety and quality control. Photo: Jennifer Buchanan / POOL/AFP
Source: AFP

Don't miss out! Get your daily dose of sports news straight to your phone. Join YEN's Sports News channel on WhatsApp now!

Boeing has suspended flight testing of its new 777X wide-body jet after identifying the failure of a part connecting the engine to the body of the aircraft, the manufacturer told AFP on Tuesday.

"During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed," the US aerospace giant said in a statement.

"Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready," it added, confirming an earlier report by specialist website The Air Current.

Boeing has been beset in recent years with concerns about safety and quality control, with a near-catastrophic incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX in January bringing renewed pressure on the company.

Boeing's 777X widebody program, unveiled in November 2013, is the latest addition to its popular 777 family.

Read also

US orders Boeing 787 inspections after LATAM plane plunge

The new twin-aisle aircraft is destined to be the world's largest twin-engine jet in operation. More than 500 777X aircraft have already been ordered, but have yet to enter commercial service.

PAY ATTENTION: Your voice can be decisive. Choose best actors, comedians, dancers, and influencers in the country in terms of YEN Entertainment Awards 2024: 3rd Edition - VOTE NOW.

The part that brought about the suspension of flight testing is custom to the 777-9 model, and connects the engine to the aircraft structure, Boeing said.

The new aircraft will be available in three models: the 777-8, the 777-9 and the 777-8 cargo.

The other 777-9s used for testing are currently being inspected following the incident, according to Boeing.

The aircraft's entry into service was originally scheduled for 2020, but due to problems during the certification process it has now been delayed to 2025.

Although the 777X has still not received the go-ahead from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing did cross an important milestone in July this year.

Read also

New Boeing CEO pledges to 'reset' relations with machinists

Following a large number of test flights, it obtained permission to start testing the 777-9 with US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) representatives on board.

New feature: Сheck out news that is picked for YOU ➡️ click on “Recommended for you” and enjoy!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: