Boeing has ordered the removal from service of eight recently built 787s which have been identified as suffering from two distinct manufacturing issues that compromised part of the aircraft’s structure.
An area of the structure in the rear of the 787 Dreamliner is unable to withstand the maximum stress.
Boeing discloses that the two structural issues were found in the join of the aft body fuselage section of the jets which would be unable to withstand the maximum stress that would be experienced by the aircraft in service and could fail.
These eight aircraft must be inspected and repaired prior to continued operation.
Boeing said in a statement,”We immediately contacted the airlines that operate the eight affected airplanes to notify them of the situation, and the airplanes have been temporarily removed from service until they can be repaired.”
The company did not disclose further details, such as which airlines were affected or when these eight aircraft were built or in which facility. Boeing builds 787s at plants in Everett, Washington and North Charleston, South Carolina.
Boeing says it has notified the US Federal Aviation Administration and is conducting “a thorough review into the root cause”.
“Safety and quality are Boeing’s highest priorities; we are taking the appropriate steps to resolve these issues and prevent them from happening again,” said Boeing.
There are now close to 1,000 Boeing 787s in operation worldwide.
787s for United, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada are impacted by the impromptu grounding.