August 21st 2024.
Boeing has made the decision to ground its entire fleet of test planes following reports of technical difficulties. The airline has been forced to halt its 777X test flights after discovering a malfunctioning engine component during routine maintenance. A spokesperson for Boeing confirmed the news to 9News and stated that the affected component will be replaced and the company is taking all necessary measures to learn from this incident before resuming flight testing.
According to Boeing, the problematic part is a crucial structural component located between the engine and the airplane structure. This issue was first discovered during test flights in Hawaii and comes just weeks after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized the 777X aircraft for test flights. A spokesperson from Boeing also shared with The Post that they will be taking note of any lessons learned from this incident and will resume testing once everything is in order.
The 777X is currently the largest twin-engine aircraft in Boeing's fleet. According to Forbes, each engine weighs a staggering 11 tons and the front fans are bigger than the entire fuselage of a Boeing 737. On their website, Boeing boasts about the 777X being the most efficient and largest twin-engine jet in the world, surpassing all other competitors in terms of performance. With advancements in aerodynamics and engines, the 777X is said to have 10% lower fuel consumption and emissions, as well as a 10% reduction in operating costs.
Qatar Airways was one of the first airlines to order a fleet of 20 777X planes from Boeing after they were showcased at the Farnborough Air Show in July. Emirates also placed a massive order of 200 777X planes, with its CEO Sir Tim Clark expecting the aircraft to be ready for operation by 2026. Despite not placing any orders for the 777X, Qantas confirmed in 2019 that they were not ruling out the possibility of adding the aircraft to their fleet.
When asked about the delay in the 777X's delivery, Sir Tim Clark expressed his confidence in Boeing's team to overcome any challenges. He stated, "The guys on the shop floor, the engineers, the machinists, they know what to do. They can get it sorted." As of now, no further information has been provided by Boeing, but 9News has reached out for a statement.
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