Transportation
Boeing Says ‘Gnarly’ Defect Is Disrupting Work on Its 737 Jets
- Employee discovered problem with fittings used in plane’s tail
- Fixing planes can take weeks, complicating production timeline
People watch as a Boeing 737 Max lands.
Photographer: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Boeing Co. said it will need to repair around 170 already-built 737 Max jets in its storage lots to correct a structural defect that was discovered almost by accident.
That’s complicating matters as the company works to meet demand for new planes that stretches into the early 2030s. And it injects risk into Boeing’s annual cash and delivery goals, crucial steps in the manufacturer’s comeback from years of crisis.