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Boeing has suspended certification flight testing of its new flagship 777X airliner after discovering problems with the engine attachments in all three test aircraft, according to a report by The Air Current. A thrust link, which helps secure the engine to its mounting structure, was found broken after a flight from Kona, Hawaii, to Seattle. Subsequent inspections revealed cracks in the thrust links on the other two aircraft, leading to the grounding of the fleet.
Boeing confirmed the pause in testing, stating it "identified a component that did not perform as designed" and indicated that flight testing would resume once replacements are made. This announcement follows a series of manufacturing and quality control issues for Boeing. The certification flight testing of the new 777 variant had been seen as a positive development for the company. The timeline for fixing the issue remains unclear. Thrust links play a crucial role in distributing loads within the engine's mounting structure.
