Boeing’s Fifth 777X Takes Flight From Paine Field

Latest 777X airframe begins testing as company advances toward certification of its next-generation widebody.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, August 06, 2025 at 11:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Boeing's fifth 777X takes flight. [Courtesy: Boeing]

Key Takeaways:

Boeing's fifth 777-9X successfully completed its first flight from Seattle, marking an important milestone in the aircraft's journey toward certification.
This production aircraft will be used to test various flight features, including climbs, turns, descents, landing gear operations, and resilience to lightning strikes.
The 777-9, part of the 777X line, is designed for greater fuel efficiency, features foldable wings for broader airport access, and uses the quieter, more eco-friendly GE9X engine, aiming for 10% lower fuel use, emissions, and operating costs than competitors.

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Boeing’s fifth 777-9X made its first flight Tuesday, launching out of Seattle Paine Field International Airport (KPAE) in Everett, Washington, just north of Seattle.

According to the Seattle Times, the aircraft lifted off at approximately 11 a.m. PDT. It is classified as a production airplane, with its primary function being to determine if certain features of the aircraft work as expected, such as climbs, turns, and descents, landing gear raising and lowering, and if it can withstand a lightning strike without any damage to critical aircraft systems.