New ‘non-conformance’ issue delays 737s at Boeing’s Renton facility

RENTON, Wash. — Boeing has delayed delivery for 50 of its 737s after a new “non-conformance” issue was discovered at its Renton facility.

This delay comes after the same factory stopped work last week to deal with the MAX-9 door plug blowout.

A Portland flight was bound for Ontario before the blown plug forced it back down to PDX. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded most MAX 9s the next day. Alaska and United Airlines have canceled hundreds of flights since then.

Boeing says it informed employees about the latest issue on Thursday. An internal memo mentions two holes that might not have been drilled “exactly to our requirements.”

The email was sent to employees by CEO Stan Deal and highlights the most recent concern, along with the company’s commitment to fixing any possible issues.

“The 737 program is going to dedicate several days in the Renton factory this week to focus on this important work, reflecting the premium we place on quality, safety, and, ultimately, stability in our factories,” writes Deal.

All fuselages at the Renton facility will be inspected before the delay is over.

“While this potential condition is not an immediate flight safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered airplanes,” continues Deal.

It’s unclear how long the break will last, however, the email suggests it could be several days.

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