Boeing hit with more delays for 737 Max after regulators rule plane’s wiring is unsafe
Boeing suffered another blow in its efforts to get its 737 Max jet back into service after regulators ruled some of the plane’s wiring is unsafe.
The fleet will have been grounded for a year on Friday after a software fault caused two crashes that killed 346.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has now said it does not agree with Boeing’s plans to keep certain important wires bundled together on the jets.
Safety fears: The 737 Max fleet will have been grounded for a year on Friday after a software fault caused two crashes that killed 346
However, Boeing does not believe it needs to separate or move the wires, despite regulators warning they could potentially short circuit and cause catastrophic accidents.
The FAA’s decision – and attempts to design new wire bundling if Boeing chooses to do this – could further delay getting approval for the 737 Max jets to fly again.
A crisis erupted in the wake of the tragedies amid criticism that some at the company knew about software problems with the planes, which US politicians dubbed ‘flying coffins’.
A Boeing spokesman said: ‘We remain in ongoing discussions with the FAA on the wire bundles.’
The FAA said it ‘continues to engage with Boeing’.