In a new warning to the giant company Boeing, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cautioned that around 300 Boeing aircraft are at risk of exploding or catching fire. This was stated in a directive proposal sent to the renowned company two months ago. The FAA indicated that the concern relates to an electrical fault in Boeing 777 aircraft, which if left unaddressed, could ignite fuel tanks located on the aircraft's wings and lead to explosions, as reported by the British Daily Mail.
Furthermore, the FAA highlighted that the discovery of this serious defect suggests the likelihood of nearly 300 other Boeing aircraft being at risk, including those used by United Airlines and American Airlines, according to the FAA’s notification.
**Boeing's Response**
In March, the FAA reported the issue and requested Boeing and other external experts to respond by May 9; however, it remains unclear whether the company has done so. A spokesperson for Boeing stated that the FAA notice is part of a "standard regulatory process that has helped ensure that air travel is the safest mode of transportation. This is not a direct aviation safety issue."
The spokesperson added, "There are many preventive design redundancies in modern commercial airplanes to ensure protection against electromagnetic effects. The fleet of Boeing 777 has been operating for nearly 30 years and has safely transported over 3.9 billion passengers."
**Explosive Risks**
In a airworthiness directive proposal issued in March 2024, the FAA warned Boeing about the danger of electrostatic discharge, or static electricity, near the central fuel tanks in the wings. The FAA cautioned that this risk could lead to "an ignition source inside the fuel tank and subsequent fire or explosion."
Earlier, a company representative confirmed that the FAA notice dated March 25, 2024, acted as a "proposal to create a rule," aimed at obtaining comments from Boeing and other relevant parties before the federal agency formally imposes any proposed fixes on the Boeing 777 fleet.
**Repair Costs**
The FAA projected that the safety repair would cost Boeing less than $698,000 to correct all 292 affected Boeing 777 aircraft listed in the U.S. registry. This is the latest significant safety warning directed at the company, which has faced numerous scandals recently, as several passenger aircraft models from Boeing have encountered various issues, including explosions in emergency exit plugs and engine fires during flight, raising concerns among millions worldwide and prompting major airlines to emphasize safety standards, which are often a global priority.
