Boeing has halted delivery of some of its 737 MAX planes after discovering fresh quality concerns from a supplier.
The issues were found in a portion of the 737 MAX family, including the MAX 7 and MAX 8, relating to Spirit AeroSystems’ installation of two fittings that join the plane’s vertical tail to its aft fuselage. The fittings were not attached correctly to the fuselage structure before it was sent to Boeing.
The delay is likely to affect a significant number of undelivered 737 MAX planes, both in production and storage. Boeing has stressed that it is not an immediate flight safety issue and planes already in service can continue to operate. However, the problem raises questions about whether it will force Boeing to roll back plans to boost 737 production this year as it aims to deliver at least 400 MAXs in 2023.
The FAA has backed Boeing’s assessment on safety and said it will evaluate all affected aircraft before delivery. The latest setback comes after the best-selling Boeing series was grounded in March 2019 after fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. The aircraft returned to service globally at the end of 2020 after modifications to the plane and pilot training.
