The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after counterfeit titanium was reportedly found in planes made by Boeing and Airbus, according to the New York Times.
The counterfeit titanium is believed to have entered the supply chain in 2019 when Turkish Aerospace Industries purchased the metal from an unknown supplier in China. The company then sold the titanium to other companies, including Spirit AeroSystems, which supplies fuselages for Boeing and wings for Airbus.
Issues were first raised in 2023 when an Italian company, Titanium International Group, purchased titanium from Turkish Aerospace Industries and noticed it seemed different from previous shipments. The company also noted that the certificates appeared to be fake.
The counterfeit titanium was potentially used to manufacture numerous aircraft parts, including doors on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and a heat shield on the 737 Max and Airbus A220.
Boeing and Airbus said they are investigating the issue and said that it should not affect the airworthiness of aircraft currently in service.
“This industrywide issue affects some shipments of titanium received by a limited set of suppliers, and tests performed to date have indicated that the correct titanium alloy was used,” Boeing said in a statement. “To ensure compliance, we are removing any affected parts on airplanes prior to delivery. Our analysis shows the in-service fleet can continue to fly safely.”
“Numerous tests have been performed on parts coming from the same source of supply,” an Airbus spokeswoman said in a statement, adding, “The safety and quality of our aircraft are our most important priorities, and we are working in close collaboration with our supplier.”
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