FAA probes Boeing and Airbus over alleged use of COUNTERFEIT TITANIUM in aircraft parts

By oliviacook // 2024-06-20

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has opened an investigation over allegations that both Boeing and Airbus may have used "counterfeit" titanium in their passenger aircraft. The FAA announced the beginning of the probe on June 13, when it started investigating fake documents used to verify titanium parts in some new Boeing and Airbus jets. The investigation was spurred on after a supplier found tiny holes in the material caused by corrosion. Spirit Aerosystems, which makes parts for both Boeing and Airbus, is also looking into the issue. Spokesperson Joe Buccino claims the problem is with titanium that got into the supply chain through possibly counterfeit documents. Titanium is crucial in building airplanes, used for parts, like blades, landing gears and turbine discs. (Related: FAKED: Thousands of jet engine parts with falsified safety certificates installed in commercial aircraft.) "When this was identified, all suspect parts were quarantined and removed from Spirit production. More than 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected material to ensure continued airworthiness." The FAA's investigation will check how serious the problem is, including how many aircraft are affected and whether those planes are safe to continue flying. There is a high demand for new planes due to increased travel after the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, supply chain issues and part shortages are making it hard for manufacturers to keep up, leading to manufacturers opting to speed up production through means that may compromise passenger safety. The FAA stated that Boeing had voluntarily reported finding out about materials bought from a distributor who might have provided fake or incorrect records. Boeing also issued a warning to its suppliers to watch out for counterfeit records. In an emailed statement, Boeing said this issue affects the entire industry and involves a small number of parts from specific suppliers. They remove these parts from planes before delivery and ensure there is no safety risk. Airbus, which holds about 60 percent of the commercial airline market compared to Boeing's 40 percent, said they are aware of the situation. Tests on parts from the same supplier showed that the planes are still safe. Airbus emphasized that safety and quality are their top priorities and they are closely working with their supplier.

FAA probe adds to long list of issues hounding Boeing

Boeing's rough 2024 continues to worsen. Its terrible year began on Jan. 5, when an Alaska Airlines flight lost a door plug – used to replace an emergency exit – just 10 minutes after takeoff. On Feb. 6, a National Transportation Safety Board investigation found that important bolts were missing from the Boeing plane. Multiple other accidents have hounded Boeing planes over the past few months, leading to Airbus attempting to capitalize on Boeing's troubles. In mid-March, United Airlines considered leasing planes from Airbus instead of Boeing. United’s CEO Scott Kirby mentioned they were open to switching if the deal made financial sense. Boeing delivered only 83 planes in the first quarter – the lowest since 2021. It initially aimed to increase 737 Max production to 50 planes a month by 2025, but recent setbacks have slowed down progress. Boeing's stock has fallen by about 29 percent in 2024 – making it one of the worst performers in the S&P 500. The company is borrowing $10 billion to address its issues, with Fitch Ratings warning that Boeing’s financial situation is nearing "junk bond status." Watch this video about the FAA's investigation of Boeing allegedly using fake titanium parts. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com.

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FAA probe adds to long list of issues hounding Boeing

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