Boeing 737 Max Faces Further Delay as 50 Aircraft Need Rework
In the midst of ongoing troubles, Boeing has announced yet another setback related to its 737 Max aircraft. The company revealed that approximately 50 of the planes will be delayed due to an issue with drilling holes in the fuselage.
According to a statement released on February 4, Boeing acknowledged that its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems, had identified two incorrectly drilled holes in part of the fuselage window frame. As a result, the affected aircraft will need to undergo rework before they can be delivered.
Stan Deere, head of Boeing’s commercial airplanes business, addressed the situation in a letter to employees, emphasizing that while the issue does not pose an immediate safety concern, it is necessary to review and rework the affected aircraft. Deere also noted that while the delay will impact Boeing’s production schedule, it is crucial for improving the overall quality and stability of the aircraft.
This latest development adds to a series of quality problems that have plagued the 737 Max in recent months. In January, an Alaska Airlines 737 Max experienced a safety door malfunction, raising further concerns about the aircraft’s reliability. The string of issues has also taken a toll on Boeing’s stock performance, with the company’s stock price falling by 1.3% on Monday and declining by 18% since the beginning of the year.
The ongoing challenges faced by the 737 Max have raised questions about Boeing’s ability to address and rectify the aircraft’s issues. As the company works to address the drilling problem and rework the impacted aircraft, it remains to be seen how this latest setback will affect Boeing’s efforts to restore trust in the 737 Max.