- Ceasing experimental flights for the latest Boeing 777X following reported damage.
Boeing is encountering a fresh hurdle: The aircraft producer has halted trial flights for the long-overdue 777X model due to damage spotted at the junction between the engine and wings. During a routine examination, it was discovered that a specific part wasn't functioning as expected, the company stated.
As reported earlier by the aviation industry site "The Air Current", one of the test planes for the 777-9 variant had a damaged attachment component connecting the engine and the wing. Prior to this, the plane had finished a journey lasting more than five hours from Hawaii. Reports suggest that fractures were identified in the same component on other 777-9 test aircraft.
Boeing didn't provide these specifics - yet clarified that there were no imminent flights planned with the other test planes anyhow. The faulty part is only implemented in the 777-9. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified.
Boeing unveiled the 777X as a successor to the widely employed 777 model back in 2013 - initially planned for service in 2020. Since then, Boeing has pushed back the launch date to 2025. The 777-9 is intended to serve as a larger model of the aircraft. Furthermore, Boeing is currently waiting for approval for new versions of its mid-range jet, the 737 Max.
The faulty component with fractures was also found on other 777-9 test aircraft, highlighting the issue's prevalence beyond the initially affected plane. Despite this, Boeing has confirmed that there are no immediate flight plans for the other test planes, featuring this 'Other' specific component only in the 777-9 model.
