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Boeing and Airbus, the two largest commercial aircraft manufacturers, may have used titanium alloys sold with false documentation, according to evidence from a supplier, sparking an investigation by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA said in a statement to NBC News that it will investigate Spirit Aerosystems’ allegations that the two aviation giants used titanium alloys in their aircraft with documents proving their authenticity and that the materials may have been counterfeit.
It caps a troubled period for Boeing, which is under federal investigation for alleged safety failures. But the news also exposes rival Airbus SE to broader scrutiny in the aviation industry.
Spirit Aerosystems, based in Wichita, Kansas, which sounded the alarm about the titanium problem, said it had moved quickly to remove all suspect titanium from its supply chain.
“This was titanium that had entered the supply system via falsified documentation. When this was discovered, all suspect components were quarantined and removed from spirits production,” the company said in a statement.
Spirit added that “more than 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected materials to ensure continued airworthiness.”
In a statement confirming a separate investigation of Boeing, the FAA said, “Boeing voluntarily notified the FAA of instances in which it procured materials through a distributor that may have falsified or provided inaccurate records.”
“Boeing has issued a bulletin explaining how suppliers should remain vigilant to the possibility of falsified records,” he added in the statement.
Airbus controls about 60 percent of the commercial aviation market, while Boeing holds the remaining 40 percent.
“This industry-wide issue impacted some titanium alloy shipments received by a small number of suppliers, and testing to date indicates the correct titanium alloy was used,” Boeing said in an emailed statement.
Boeing added that it was “in the process of removing all affected components from airplanes prior to delivery. Our analysis indicates the active fleet can continue to fly safely.”
Airbus issued a statement saying it was “aware of the situation”.
The FAA said it is investigating what caused the so-called Dutch rollover of a Boeing 737 Max while flying from Phoenix to Oakland last month.
A door panel fell off a 737 Max-9 in mid-flight in January, marking the start of a turbulent year for Boeing. The FAA is also investigating whether Boeing completed required inspections of its flagship 787 Dreamliner.
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