Production defects

Numerous production defects on Boeing 737 MAX

A Boeing 737-8 MAX at the factory in Washington

(Bild: AFP)

The US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has failed more than a third of the tests on the 737 MAX during extensive safety inspections by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

During the investigation into the production process, which was initiated after a cabin wall was torn off during a flight, the Airbus rival failed 33 of 89 tests, the New York Times reported on Monday.

Supplier passed only six of 13 audits
Boeing also failed the test involving the door plug of the cracked component during the comprehensive inspection. The supplier Spirit AeroSystems, which manufactures the fuselage for the MAX, only passed six out of thirteen audits. Spirit also failed in the assembly of the cabin wall component.

Inspection, manufacturing and storage violations
During the tests, concerns were raised about the technicians, among other things, as Boeing had apparently failed to "identify the knowledge required to operate its processes", writes the NYT. 

On January 5, an almost new Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Alaska Airlines with more than 170 people on board had a fuselage section break off during a climb shortly after take-off.

(Bild: AP/National Transportation Safety Board)

(Bild: Associated Press)

Last week, the FAA announced that it had found "violations in the control of manufacturing processes, parts handling and storage, and product control at Boeing".

On January 5, part of the cabin wall of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, which was only a few weeks old and had 177 people on board, broke off at an altitude of around five kilometers.