CHICAGO (AP) — Boeing says it needs to fix a design flaw in the tail section of its new 787, but that it still expects to start delivering the plane by the end of this year.
Testing showed that the outer skin of the plane and the bracket-like piece of metal that holds it could separate slightly. Boeing says it will change the way the device is made, and that should fix the problem.
Boeing Co. has told suppliers to stop delivering 787 parts for almost five weeks. Boeing spokeswoman Yvonne Leach says the design problem was one small part of that delay, but not the main cause.
The issue was first reported on Monday on FlightBlogger, part of the Flightglobal aviation news website.
