Boeing Co. found more mistakes with holes drilled in the fuselage of its 737 Max jet, a setback that could further slow deliveries on a critical program already restricted by regulators over quality lapses.
The latest manufacturing slip originated with a supplier and will require rework on about 50 undelivered 737 jets to repair the faulty rivet holes, Boeing commercial chief Stan Deal said in a note to staff.
While he didn’t identify the contractor, a spokesperson for fuselage supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc. said it’s aware of the issue and will conduct repairs.
The extra time required for inspections and repair work could delay near-term plane deliveries, Deal said in his memo, which was seen by Bloomberg News. He didn’t say whether any action would be required on the in-service 737 fleet.
“This is the only course of action given our commitment to deliver perfect airplanes every time,” Deal said in his note.