In the midst of the crisis surrounding its Type 737 Max aircraft, the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has suffered another setback, according to US media reports. After technical problems, the company had to suspend the tests on the new long-haul aircraft 777X for the time being. The incident will now be investigated, said a company spokesman. He did not give any details.
According to the Seattle Times, a machine lost a door during a test of pressure equalization on the floor. It was a "loud boom" to hear, quoted the sheet an employee. The technical issues occurred when inspectors from the US Aviation Authority (FAA) were also present.
Maiden flight already postponed
This information was not confirmed by Boeing. The company spokesman only stated that they are now looking for the cause of the problem. Nor did the spokesman say whether the incident should postpone the deadline for the first scheduled test flight, which is currently scheduled for early 2020.
Originally, the first test flight of the 777X should have already taken place this summer. However, the schedule for the new long-haul aircraft had to be postponed in July, the first test flight was newly dated to early 2020. As a reason, Boeing reported problems with the engine, which is manufactured by General Electric. The goal of delivering the first 777X machines by the end of 2020 was confirmed by Boeing. The new type should replace the 777.
Boeing is currently deep in the crisis, for the 737 Max applies since March, a global flight ban. Previously, two crashes of machines of this type had killed 346 people in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Investigators suspect that the accidents are related to a stabilization system that pushes the aircraft nose down in the event of a risk of stalling.
Part I of the story at SPIEGEL +
