Boeing, the embattled aircraft manufacturer, faces another setback as a worker at a supplier discovered a production issue with some of its 737 jets. The worker found misdrilled holes in the fuselages, potentially causing a delay in deliveries of approximately 50 aircraft. Spirit AeroSystems, based in Wichita, Kansas, is responsible for manufacturing many of the fuselages for Boeing Max jets. Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal addressed the issue in a letter to staff, stating that while the problem is not an immediate safety concern, rework will be required for the undelivered planes.

The employee at the fuselages supplier alerted his manager about the misdrilled holes, which may not have been drilled according to specifications. Spirit AeroSystems spokesperson Joe Buccino confirmed that they are in close communication with Boeing regarding the matter. This latest incident comes after the grounding of over 170 planes by US regulators following an emergency landing of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 on January 5th. During that incident, a window and a chunk of fuselage blew out of the plane shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon.

Both Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the only other US airline flying the Max 9, reported finding loose hardware in door plugs of other planes they inspected after the incident. As a result, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded all Max 9s in the US. Two weeks later, the agency approved the inspection and maintenance process to allow the planes to return to flying, and Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have started reintroducing some of the aircraft into service.

Boeing, based in Washington, recently withdrew a request for a safety exemption needed to certify a new, smaller model of the 737 Max airliner. The company has been under increased scrutiny following the Alaska Airlines incident, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigating the accident and the FAA examining whether Boeing and its suppliers followed proper quality-control procedures.

In response to the latest issue, Deal emphasized Boeing's commitment to delivering flawless airplanes and stated that the company will set aside time in the 737 program for inspections and necessary rework. Buccino reassured the public that Spirit AeroSystems is aware of the non-conformance issue and will implement repairs once the appropriate solution is determined.

The discovery of mis-drilled holes by the supplier adds to the list of quality concerns surrounding Boeing's 737 Max planes. It remains to be seen how this latest setback will impact the already strained relationship between Boeing, its suppliers, regulators, and airlines. The FAA's ongoing audit of Boeing's production and manufacturing processes suggests that the company will continue to face increased scrutiny as it works to address these issues and regain trust in its aircraft.