The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is conducting an investigation into concerns surrounding the authenticity of titanium utilized in Airbus and Boeing aircraft. This inquiry arose following the discovery of corrosion-related metal defects by a supplier, prompting suspicions that documentation may have been falsified by a supply chain partner, akin to previous incidents such as the AOG Technics scandal last year.
The issue has been linked to a supplier based in China. Airbus and Boeing’s collaborator, Spirit AeroSystems, has raised allegations that titanium used in recent aircraft builds for both manufacturers might have been improperly verified, prompting the FAA to initiate an investigation.
The FAA stated in a release:
“Boeing reported a voluntary disclosure to the FAA regarding procurement of material through a distributor who may have falsified or provided incorrect records. Boeing issued a bulletin outlining ways suppliers should remain alert to the potential of falsified records.”
Italian parts supplier Titanium International Group discovered small holes in titanium in December 2023 and raised concerns about the authenticity of accompanying documentation. Upon discovering these issues, Titanium International Group notified Spirit AeroSystems, which subsequently informed Airbus and Boeing about the matter in January 2024. According to three sources familiar with the situation but who chose to remain anonymous, the affected aircraft include models built between 2019 and 2023, specifically the Boeing 737 MAX, 787 Dreamliner, and Airbus A220 programs.
The affected parts include passenger and cargo doors, as well as a component linking engines to the airframe on the 787 Dreamliner. Additionally, heat shields protecting a component linking engines to the airframe are affected on the 737 MAX and A220.
The root of the problem has been traced back to a Chinese supplier that supplied titanium to Turkish Aerospace Industries in 2019. According to documentation, this titanium was purportedly sourced from another Chinese firm, Baoji Titanium Industry. However, Baoji Titanium Industry has confirmed that it did not supply this particular batch of titanium and has no business relationship with the company in question.
