Boeing has grounded its B777-9 testbed fleet due to the failure of a structural component that mounts the engine to the aircraft, discovered during a routine post-flight inspection.
The impacted part is a custom-made component between the engine and the central structure of the B777-9, with each engine having two parts of this component.
The issue was initially found on Boeing’s third test aircraft, N779XY, with subsequent inspections on other test aircraft revealing cracks in the thrust link structure.
Boeing informed the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the damaged component and is working to assess and replace the part before resuming flight testing. The manufacturer still anticipates the first delivery of the B777-9 to take place in 2025, with orders for 383 B777-9s, from Emirates (expecting 170 aircraft of the type), ANA, Air India, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
N779XY last operated a five-hour flight in Hawaii, departing and landing at Kona.
