Boeing is facing another setback with its 737 Max aircraft, as a new quality-control issue has been identified, leading to a delay in the delivery of approximately 50 planes. Stan Deal, head of Boeing's commercial airplanes division, revealed in a staff memo that a supplier notified the company about a discrepancy in the drilling of two holes in the bodies of some 737 Max planes. The issue, while not an immediate flight-safety concern, requires rework on about 50 undelivered airplanes.
The supplier involved, though not officially disclosed by Boeing, is reported by various media outlets to be Spirit AeroSystems. Spirit AeroSystems plays a significant role in the construction of the 737 Max, delivering fuselages and accounting for about 70% of each aircraft's assembly. In response to the issue, Spirit stated, "A member of our team identified an issue that does not conform to engineering standards. We began immediate actions to identify and implement appropriate repair solutions and are in close communication with Boeing on this matter."
Boeing is currently finalizing instructions for the rework of the affected airplanes and will continue to deliver 737 Max aircraft that are not impacted by this issue.
This development adds to the scrutiny Boeing has been under, especially following the incident involving a 737 Max 9 exit door plug on an Alaska Airlines flight on January 5. The door plug, which was later recovered, was missing four bolts designed to hold it in place.
As Boeing addresses this latest challenge, the focus remains on ensuring the highest standards of quality control and safety for its aircraft.
