Boeing announced on Monday (August 19) that during the first flight test of the wide body aircraft 777X, it was discovered that one of the planes had structural damage and subsequently grounded the test fleet.
Boeing stated in a statement that the damaged component is located between the engine and the body structure, and that the faulty component will be replaced and the cause of the problem identified in the future. Flight testing will resume once everything is clear.
The new wide body aircraft 777X, as Boeing's latest generation of twin aisle aircraft, is highly anticipated by the market for its high fuel efficiency and more spacious cabin design. Boeing currently has an order for 540 new 777X aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2025. Prior to this, in July, Boeing finally began flight testing with the assistance of the US regulatory agency, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), marking an important milestone.
However, the latest test flight malfunction event has once again cast a shadow over the prospects of this company. It is currently unclear whether the suspension of test flights and related issues will affect the certification and delivery of new wide body aircraft. Boeing has informed the FAA and its customers of the incident.
Given that its certification work has been delayed by about five years compared to the original plan, this matter may add another setback for Boeing.
Ken Herbert, Capital Analyst at Royal Bank of Canada, wrote in a report on Monday that "this grounding may delay the expected delivery of the 777X, and may even be postponed until 2026
For Boeing, this year's "bad luck" is coming in droves. The FAA also requested an inspection of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Monday, following a sudden dive of a Latin American Airlines plane in mid air in March that injured over 50 passengers. The obvious reason for the plane diving is that the captain's seat moved without instructions, causing the autopilot to disconnect.
The FAA has received a total of five reports regarding similar issues with the captain and first mate seats on the 787 aircraft, with two reports still under investigation.
Currently, the leadership led by Boeing's newly appointed CEO Kelly Ortberg is attempting to steer the company out of a safety crisis that began earlier this year. On July 31st, Boeing announced that aviation industry veteran Ottoberg will take office as CEO of Boeing from August 8th, saving the company from disaster.