A Boeing 777X aircraft takes to the air during an air display on the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow in Farnborough, United Kingdom, Monday, July 18, 2022.
Jason Alden | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Boeing said Monday it has paused flight testing of its 777X after finding structural damage to one of the wide-body jets.
The company said it discovered the damage to the custom part, which it said sits between the engine and the airframe, during scheduled maintenance. It has since grounded the other three 777-9s in its test fleet. No further flight tests were scheduled for the other plane, Boeing said.
“Our team is replacing the part and realizing the benefits of the component and will resume flight testing when ready,” Boeing said in a statement. It added that it has informed the Federal Aviation Administration and its customers, who have ordered 481 777Xs, according to Boeing's website.
It was not immediately clear whether the suspension and the issue would affect certification and delivery of the new wide-body jets, which are scheduled for delivery in 2025, about five years later than previously planned. Boeing began flight testing of the aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration in July, a major milestone.
The news, previously reported by The Air Current, comes as Boeing leaders, including new CEO Kelly Ortberg, are trying to help the company overcome a safety crisis that began with an exploding door stopper earlier this year.
