Boeing warns of more delays after supplier finds another problem with 737 jets

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Boeing reported another problem with fuselages on its 737 jets which may delay deliveries of about 50 plane within the newest high quality gaff to plague the producer.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal stated in a letter to Boeing employees seen on 5 February {that a} employee at its supplier found misdrilled holes in fuselages. Spirit AeroSystems, based mostly in Wichita, Kansas, makes a big half of the fuselages on Boeing Max jets.

“While this potential condition is not an immediate safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered planes,” Deal stated within the letter to staff shared with the media.

The problem was found by an worker of the supplier of the fuselages who notified his supervisor that two holes might need not been drilled in keeping with specs, Deal stated.

Both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems are dealing with intense scrutiny over the standard of their work after an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 was compelled to make an emergency touchdown on 5 January when a panel known as a door plug blew out of the facet of the airplane shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.

The NTSB is investigating the accident, whereas the Federal Aviation Administration investigates whether or not Boeing and its suppliers adopted quality-control procedures.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the one different US airline flying the Max 9, reported discovering free {hardware} in door plugs of different planes they inspected after the accident. The FAA grounded all Max 9s within the US the day after the blowout. Two weeks later, the company authorized the inspection and upkeep course of to return the planes to flying.

Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have begun returning some to service.

Boeing, based mostly in Renton, Washington, stated final week it was withdrawing a request for a security exemption wanted to certify a brand new, smaller mannequin of the 737 Max airliner. Boeing requested federal regulators late final 12 months to permit supply of its 737 Max 7 airliner to prospects though it doesn’t meet a security customary designed to stop half of the engine housing from overheating and breaking off throughout flight.