In recent news, titanium distributed with fake documentation has been discovered in commercial Boeing and Airbus jets. The Federal Aviation Administration, along with aircraft manufacturers and supplier Spirit AeroSystems, are conducting an investigation to determine if these components pose a safety hazard to the public.
This probe, as reported by the New York Times, adds to a series of quality and safety issues plaguing the aerospace industry. Small holes found in the material, believed to be from corrosion, have prompted this latest investigation.
Both the FAA and Boeing have confirmed their involvement in the matter. Boeing stated that the questionable parts come from a limited group of suppliers, and initial tests suggest the correct titanium alloy was used.
Spirit AeroSystems revealed that the investigation is focused on counterfeit documents that allowed the questionable titanium to enter the supply chain.
Airbus has acknowledged the situation, stating that numerous tests have been conducted on parts from the same source of supply to confirm the airworthiness of its A220 aircraft.
The FAA is now working to assess the safety implications of using these parts on planes, including models like the Boeing 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner, as well as the Airbus 220. Boeing has reported a voluntary disclosure to the FAA regarding potential falsified records from a distributor.
These issues in the aviation industry have raised concerns among passengers about the safety of air travel. With a reduced capacity of planes available for service, airfares may see an increase due to high demand for air travel worldwide.
The most notable problems in recent years have involved Boeing, with fatal crashes of its 737 Max and other incidents like a door plug blowing off an Alaska Airlines flight. Airbus has also faced challenges with engine issues grounding some of its planes.
