Boeing Co has said that its suspension of final load testing of its new wide-body 777X aircraft was due to an issue that involved depressurisation of the rear fuselage of the plane.
The company said that while an assessment of the main reason continues, it does not expect the issue to have a significant impact on aircraft design or on the overall test program schedule.
Boeing said that the test involved the bending of wings of the aeroplane "up to a level far beyond anything expected in commercial service".
However, the testing issue occurred during the final minutes of the test, Boeing revealed, at approximately 99% of the final test loads.
Fully-Focused
The company said in a statement, "The test team followed all safety protocols, and we are conducting a comprehensive root-cause assessment over the coming weeks.
"The static aeroplane has been successfully undergoing testing since June, and this was the final test for the static test article.
"While our root cause assessment continues, at this time we do not expect that this will have a significant impact on aircraft design or on our overall test program schedule.
"We remain fully focused on safety as our highest priority, as we subject the 777X to a rigorous test program prior to first flight."
News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Additional reporting by Aidan O'Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
