Boeing halted shipments of certain models of its popular aircraft on Thursday after discovering quality problems with components provided by Spirit Aerosystems. Boeing is facing another quality concern in the assembly of its most popular commercial planes, the 737 MAX.
On Thursday, the aircraft manufacturer acknowledged that it had suspended deliveries of some planes to conduct inspections on two connectors that join the rear fuselage to the vertical tail. Certain parts were not properly attached to the structure, impacting units currently in production or storage. Spirit Aerosystems, renowned for assembling various components of Boeing planes, supplies these parts.
The issue affects the 737 MAX 7, Max 8, 8-200 models, as well as the previous 737NG series, currently manufactured as the P-8 Poseidon for maritime patrol.
The only unaffected variant is the 737 MAX 9, which currently has the highest capacity. “This does not pose an immediate safety risk during flight, and the operational fleet can continue to operate safely,” explained Boeing. As a result of the delivery suspension, the manufacturer will have to delay the planned increase in production for the upcoming years.
Boeing had originally aimed to raise the monthly production of the 737 from 31 to 38 planes in June. By 2024, the goal was to reach a monthly production rate of 42 aircraft.