Boeing halts test flights of new plane

DALLAS >> Boeing is suspending test flights of a new airliner because of a possible problem in the manufacturing of a key engine part.

The company said Wednesday that it still plans to deliver the first Boeing 737 Max later this month, and production will continue.

The news sent Boeing Co. shares down nearly 4 percent, although they recovered partly to close at $183.18, down $2.31, or 1.3 percent.

Chicago-based Boeing was notified last week of a potential issue involving turbine engine discs produced by a supplier to engine maker CFM International. Boeing said it has not experienced any problems with the discs during more than 2,000 hours of testing.

The Max is designed to be a more fuel-efficient version of the workhorse 737, Boeing’s most popular commercial plane. Malaysia’s Malindo Air plans to take delivery of the first Max in a few days and begin using it for passenger flights before July. Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. expects to begin using the plane this fall.

The discs in question are made by a supplier to CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric and France’s Safran.

GE spokeswoman Jamie Jewell declined to identify the supplier. She said GE and Safran will work with the supplier to find and correct any shortcomings in the manufacturing process while also turning to a backup supplier to keep production of engines on schedule.

In a written statement, Boeing said it will work with CFM “to understand the precise scope and root cause of the quality issue.”

New planes and parts go through extensive testing to turn up problems before passengers go on board.

ELAINE THOMPSON — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE In this file photo, the first of the large Boeing 737 MAX 9 models, Boeing’s newest commercial airplane, sits outside its production plant in Renton, Wash.