The latest in a string of quality control problems for the embattled US aerospace firm, Boeing has halted flight testing of its new 777X wide-body jet after discovering the failure of a section linking the engine to the aircraft body.
“During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed,” the US aerospace giant told AFP in a statement.
“Our team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready,” it added, confirming an earlier report by specialist website The Air Current.
Concerns regarding safety and quality control have plagued Boeing in recent years, and a near-catastrophic incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX in January put additional strain on the business.
Kelly Ortberg, 64, became the company’s new CEO earlier this month, promising to turn around the struggling manufacturer. He also revealed he will be located in Seattle, close to the company’s commercial aircraft projects.
