According to an internal Boeing memo seen by Reuters news agency, Boeing has reported finding foreign object debris in a number of fuel tanks of 737 MAX jets which are awaiting delivery while the plane remains grounded.
Such debris usually includes rags, tools, metal shavings and other materials left behind by workers during the production process. This has been a quality control issue for various Boeing aircraft, such as its KC-46 tankers as well. The debris was discovered during routine maintenance of the undelivered jets.
A spokesperson from Boeing has confirmed the authenticity of the memo from the general manager of the 737 program, Mark Jenks, who also made it clear that the debris was “totally unacceptable”, adding that further steps would be taken to eradicate the problem. The planemaker does not feel that this current issue should have any effect on the jet’s return to service.
With over 400 of the MAX jets awaiting delivery and production now temporarily stopped, the new Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said in an email to staff that the company would “keep taking steps to maintain our supply chain and workforce expertise so we’re ready to restart production.” Boeing made it clear in a late-January statement that it had “made significant progress over the past several months in support of safely returning the 737 MAX to service as the company continues to work with the FAA and other global regulators on the process laid out for certifying the 737 MAX software and related training updates.”
