The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are investigating the potential use of counterfeit or improperly documented titanium parts with falsified certification in some Boeing and Airbus jets, including the Boeing 737 Max, 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A220.
The issue was raised by Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier of wings and fuselages, after discovering small holes and corrosion in the titanium components, raising concerns about their authenticity and structural integrity.
Both Boeing and Airbus have confirmed that their in-service fleets are unaffected, and they have conducted tests to ensure the correct titanium alloy was used and removed affected parts before delivery.
The investigation aims to determine how many planes built between 2019 and 2023 have these faulty parts and assess the safety implications.
Boeing and Airbus have emphasized their commitment to safety and quality, stating that planes with the affected parts are safe to fly, and they are collaborating closely with the supplier to resolve the issue and prevent falsified records in the future.
The investigation comes amidst existing scrutiny on Boeing and Spirit's safety protocols, as well as a new FAA inquiry into potential quality control issues at Boeing's 787 Dreamliner assembly line.
Sources: Bloomberg, New York Times, NBC News, CNN, The Independent, New York Post, Gizmodo, nextbigfuture.com, aviationpros.com, globaltimes.cn, eurasiareview.com, independentsentinel.com, aviation24.be, globeecho.com, jetlinemarvel.net, fl360aero.com.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
