Certificates accompanying deliveries of titanium intended for the two aircraft manufacturers were falsified, according to Boeing, leading to an investigation by the American civil aviation regulator. However, the metal used would be of good quality.
News that echoes Boeing’s recent series of setbacks. The American civil aviation regulator, the FAA, is investigating the reliability of titanium used by Boeing and Airbus in the manufacture of recent aircraft and whose certificates have been falsified. According to New York Timesit involves metal supplied by a Chinese supplier, accompanied by documents containing false information, entered by an employee. “Boeing spontaneously reported to the FAA that these materials were obtained from a supplier who may have submitted falsified or incorrect documents”an FAA spokesperson told AFP. “The FAA is investigating the extent and impact of this problem” he added.
Several industry officials explained to AFP, on condition of anonymity, that this development did not pose an immediate risk to the aircraft currently in service. According to the New York Times, the titanium in question was integrated into Boeing 737 and 787 Dreamliners as well as Airbus A220s, built between 2019 and 2023, without it being yet possible to determine the number.
No risk for aircraft safety
Spirit AeroSystems, a subcontractor for Boeing and Airbus which is conducting its own investigation, favors the hypothesis of a single batch of titanium concerned, said a spokesperson. “The documentation is falsified”he commented, but “titanium is of good quality. For us, there is no security problem. But we cannot find the origin. metal. The spokesperson clarified that Spirit took delivery of the titanium in the form of parts and not as raw metal.
Boeing said it would remove titanium from aircraft not yet delivered, but those currently in service could “keep flying safely”. “Tests carried out at this stage showed that the correct titanium alloy had been used”, added the aircraft manufacturer. Airbus assured the New York Times that “the A220’s ability to fly was intact”. Asked by AFP, the European manufacturer did not respond immediately.
Boeing has been experiencing setbacks for several months, partly linked to problems on its assembly lines. On Thursday, he reported insufficiently tightened fasteners on several 787 Dreamliners awaiting delivery. The group’s boss, Dave Calhoun, is due to be heard next week before a US Senate committee.
Read alsoAfter many setbacks, Boeing finally succeeds in launching its Starliner capsule
Furthermore, the American Transportation Safety Agency, the NTSB, reported on Friday an investigation into an incident that occurred on a Southwest 737 MAX 8 during a flight on May 25. The aircraft began to roll sideways, before the pilots managed to regain control.
