When Boeing's 777-9 enters service, it will be the world’s largest twin-engine airliner. [Courtesy Boeing]
Key Takeaways:
Boeing has grounded its 777X test fleet after technicians discovered cracks in a critical thrust link, a structural component connecting the engine to the airframe, on all three test aircraft.
The faulty thrust links, made of heavy titanium and custom to the 777-9, were found during routine maintenance on a 777X after it landed in Hawaii.
The company has informed the FAA and is assessing the issue, which impacts the 777X program currently awaiting certification with deliveries slated for 2026.
Boeing engineers are taking a closer look at the wings of the 777 after routine maintenance on the 777X—the aircraft used for test flying—found a faulty thrust link.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
