Boeing has suspended flights with the 777-9 test aircraft after a structural failure was located in the engine mount on the wings during a type certification flight on August 15.
The decision was revealed by The Air Current and confirmed by the planemaker.
According to the outlet, shortly after a 5-hour and 30-minute flight on August 15 with the prototype registration N779XY from Kona International Airport in Hawaii, the Boeing team noticed a structural problem during the post-flight inspection.
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Checks on two other 777-9s in the test fleet confirmed the same problem, which caused Boeing to halt flights until it understands what happened.
“During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed. Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready,” Boeing said in a statement to The Air Current.
Development schedule delayed
The latest setback adds to several other issues that the 777X, the world’s largest twin-engine widebody, has faced since its launch.
The aircraft, an improved and more capable variant of the original 777, is intended to be a more efficient alternative to older four-engine aircraft such as the 747 and A380.
However, the development program has faced several delays, initially due to the certification of the new GE9X engine, the largest turbofan ever developed.
The Covid pandemic and the 737 MAX scandal have also affected the 777X, forcing Boeing to meet stricter FAA requirements.
The situation seemed to improve in July, when the US civil aviation authority finally gave the go-ahead for certification flights.
Boeing expects to obtain type certification in 2025 and deliver the first jets to Lufthansa and Emirates by the end of next year.
