Boeing Grounds 777-9 Test Fleet Due to Titanium Part Issue

Boeing has temporarily grounded its 777-9 test fleet after discovering that a titanium structural component failed to perform as expected during a routine maintenance check. The aerospace giant, based in Virginia, revealed that the part, which serves as a mount between the plane's engine and wing pylons, will be replaced before flight testing resumes. However, the company has not disclosed specific details regarding the nature or extent of the flaw.

The component in question is unique to the 777-9, the larger commercial variant of Boeing's twin-aisle 777X program. The aircraft is powered by GE Aerospace's advanced GE9X engines, and Boeing emphasized that each engine has two of these parts to ensure redundancy in case of failure.

The incident raises questions about whether this defect could further delay the 777-9's certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA began test flights in mid-July, following years of setbacks to obtain type inspection authorization. Boeing assured that the FAA is being kept fully informed and that its customers have been alerted to the issue.

In a related development, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive this week affecting nearly 900 Boeing 787 Dreamliners worldwide. The directive requires inspections and potential fixes for switch caps on cockpit seats that could cause unintended and sustained movement, posing a risk to auto-pilot and other flight control functions. This action follows a March incident where a LATAM Airlines flight experienced a severe shake midflight, leading to a dive and passenger injuries.