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Boeing 737 Max at the plant in Renton near Seattle: “Deviation in some 737 fuselages”
Photo: Lindsey Wasson / REUTERS
The crisis-ridden US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is again having problems with one of its aircraft. The company said the delivery of 50 of its 737 MAX passenger aircraft will be delayed. The reason is two incorrectly drilled holes in some aircraft fuselages, which the supplier Spirit Aero Systems informed Boeing about. This makes further work on the aircraft necessary. Boeing now has to carry out rework on around 50 aircraft that were not delivered.
Several industry people familiar with the matter had previously drawn attention to the problem. "Last Thursday, a supplier informed us of a discrepancy in some 737 fuselages," said Stan Deal, managing director of the passenger aircraft division, in a letter to employees. This is not an immediate flight safety issue and all 737 aircraft can continue to operate safely.
Tightened airline controls and inspectors
Boeing's quality controls are currently in particular focus after a fuselage part of an Alaska Airlines 737-9 Max came off in flight at the beginning of January. The inmates escaped with horror. During inspections, loose fasteners were also found on other aircraft of the variant. Around 170 aircraft of the affected variant have only recently been allowed to take off again after inspections.
The US aviation regulator FAA announced stricter controls at Boeing after the incident - and some airlines also want to send their own inspectors to the production lines. Boeing boss Dave Calhoun assured that the company would improve quality supervision.
Boeing has the fuselage of the 737 aircraft manufactured by the supplier Spirit Aerosystems, which was once part of the group. Deliveries of 737 aircraft had to be interrupted last year due to faulty boreholes. The problem caused by Spirit was in the pressure bulkhead that closes off the rear of the aircraft cabin.
kig/Reuters/dpa-AFX