Engine Structure Issue Halts Boeing 777X Test Flights

DALLAS — According to a scoop from The Air Current, Boeing has grounded its experimental 777X fleet after discovering a failure in a “crucial piece of structure that mounts the engine to the aircraft.”

The issue came up during a routine inspection carried out on WH003. Boeing uses the aircraft as a testbed for handling, avionics, and propulsion. 

The Boeing 777X

Since its launch in November 2013, the 777X program received over 500 orders. Recently, Korean Air (KE) joined the customer list with an order for 20 units for the -9 variant placed at the Farnborough Airshow. 

The 777-9 will seat up to 426 passengers in a typical two-class layout. Bridging between the Boeing 777-300ER and the Boeing 747, the aircraft’s certification process started in early July 2024.

Boeing did not showcase its commercial lineup at the 2024 edition of the Farnborough Airshow to focus on the certification of its next-generation fleet. At the 2023 Dubai Airshow, Boeing showcased WH001, the first experimental 777X carrying the registration N779XW. 

The featured image shows WH003 slowing down at King County International Airport (BFI).