Entire fleet grounded as huge problem found

It’s meant to be the most state-of-the-art commercial aircraft. But a new safety fail is dogging its planemaker after years of increased scrutiny and reputation damage.

Boeing is being forced to ground its entire test fleet of 777X jetliners after a test flight revealed damage to an engine mount.

The test flight for the 777X — Boeing’s latest and most state-of-the-art commercial aircraft — is just the latest safety fail to dog the planemaker, which has endured years of increased regulatory scrutiny and reputation damage following a series of mishaps and crashes.

During test flights in Hawaii on Friday, a 777X plane landed with damage to an important part that connects the large engine to the body of the aircraft, according to the Air Current.

Boeing is being forced to ground its entire 777X fleet after a test flight gone wrong on Friday. Picture: Jennifer Buchanan / POOL / AFP

The same cracks were then found on two other test airplane’s engines during inspections.

The failed test took place a few weeks after the FAA cleared the Boeing 777X for test flights — the next step in gaining approval for passenger service.

“During scheduled maintenance, we identified a component that did not perform as designed,” a Boeing spokesperson told The Post in a statement.

Boeing has suffered from a safety crisis for the past few years after a series of deadly plane crashes in 2018 and 2019.

“Our team is replacing the part and capturing any leanings from the component and will resume flight testing when ready.”

The 777X is Boeing’s latest and largest aircraft. It was initially set to start commercial service in 2020. Increased regulatory scrutiny following a series of safety faults pushed the date back to 2025.

Now, the discovery of a faulty engine part threatens to push the date back even further.

The cracks were found on an integral part called the thrust link that connects the plane to its engines. The link – which is made of heavy-duty titanium – is manufactured by Boeing and unique to the 777X fleet.

The new Boeing plane features GE9X engines manufactured by General Electric, new composite wings, a larger cabin and increased seating.

The test flight for the 777X — Boeing’s latest and most state-of-the-art commercial aircraft — is just the latest safety fail to dog the planemaker. Picture: Justin Tallis/AFP

General Electric became the planemaker’s engine maker in 2014, partnering with Boeing on large jets like the 777X.

The GE-9X engine found on the 777X is particularly large. It weighs about 11 tons with a front fan spanning 11 feet in diameter.

Boeing has been at the centre of a safety scandal for years now, starting with two deadly 737 Max crashes just five months apart that killed 346 people in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia.

In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to a single felony charge for deceiving regulators who approved the 737 MAX. The company would pay a $243.6 million fine, invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs and be placed on probation for three years as part of the plea deal.

Then a door plug flew off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 in midair in January, prompting the Department of Justice to launch a criminal investigation.

The planemaker has been losing revenue as its reputation suffers.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission