Boeing’s suppliers have notified the embattled company that they have discovered holes accidentally drilled in the fuselages of about 50 undelivered 737 MAX planes.
Boeing announced on Sunday that additional work would need to be done on the plane after supplier Spirit AeroSystems discovered two holes in some of the fuselage holes were erroneously drilled.
Manufacturing issues may cause short-term delays in aircraft deliveries.
Industry sources told Reuters that “edge margin” or spacing issues were discovered in holes drilled into the window frames of some planes.
“Last Thursday, we received notice from a supplier that some of our 737s were nonconforming,” Boeing Sales Director Stand Diehl said in a letter to staff, referring to Spirit AeroSystems. ” he said.
“We would like to thank the supplier’s employee who informed our manager that the two holes may not have exactly met our requirements,” Diehl wrote.
“While this potential situation does not pose an immediate flight safety issue and all 737s can safely continue to operate, the approximately 50 aircraft currently undelivered will require rework,” he said. I think it will be,” he added.
Spirit AeroSystems representative Joe Buccino told Reuters that members of the company’s quality control team discovered the problem, which did not meet the supplier’s technical standards.
“We are in close contact with Boeing on this matter,” he told Reuters.
Boeing has been under fire from regulators and airlines since the door plug of an Alaska Airlines-owned 737 MAX 9 with 177 people on board came off over Oregon during a flight to California on January 5, forcing the pilot to respond. It’s been criticized. Emergency landing.
The company said the erroneously drilled hole had no safety implications and existing 737s may continue to fly.
Diehl said Boeing will spend several “factory days” this week at its factory outside Seattle to repair the holes and complete additional work.
On such days, workers can suspend normal operations and work on specific tasks without halting production, Reuters reported, but the Federal Aviation Administration said it had no immediate comment. .
The agency announced last month that it plans to increase its oversight of Boeing and immediately begin auditing the company’s production and manufacturing.
with post wire
