MK sports Korea 2024 in Seattle, Washington. Alaska Airlines grounded its 737 MAX 9 planes after part of a fuselage blew off during a flight from Portland Oregon to Ontario, California. Photo: AFP" src="https://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2024/2024-01-07/c356a0de-2d93-46b9-bfb7-dc09aa7a8ca6.jpeg" />

An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane sits at a gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on January 6, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. Alaska Airlines grounded its 737 MAX 9 planes after part of a fuselage blew off during a flight from Portland Oregon to Ontario, California. Photo: AFP

Two major plane manufacturers said their in-service fleets were not affected by the counterfeit titanium used in the planes, after media reported that the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating titanium used in some Boeing and Airbus jets.

The industry-wide issue impacts shipments of titanium received by a limited number of suppliers, and tests performed to date have indicated that the correct titanium alloy was used, Boeing said in a statement sent to the Global Times on Monday. 

"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," Boeing stated. 

Airbus is aware of the situation. Numerous tests have been performed on parts coming from the same source of supply. They show that the A220's airworthiness remains intact, Airbus said in a statement seen by the Global Times. 

"The safety and quality of our aircraft are our most important priorities and we are working in close collaboration with our supplier," Airbus said.

Such comments came after the New York Times reported on Friday that FAA is investigating how questionable titanium got into Boeing and Airbus jets.

The report said some recently manufactured Boeing and Airbus jets have components made from titanium that was sold using fake documentation verifying the material's authenticity, according to a supplier for the plane makers.

The falsified documents are being investigated by Spirit AeroSystems, which supplies fuselages for Boeing and wings for Airbus, as well as the Federal Aviation Administration. The investigation comes after a parts supplier found small holes in the material from corrosion.

The report said that the planes that included components made with the material were manufactured between 2019 and 2023, including some Boeing 737 Max and 787 Dreamliner airliners as well as Airbus A220 jets.

Titanium is an important component in the aerospace supply chain and is used to make landing gears, blades and turbine discs for aircraft.

Global Times