Aerospace Giants Under Scrutiny Over Forged Titanium Documentation
In a blow to manufacturing safety, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating claims that counterfeit titanium components have been used in Boeing and Airbus planes. This follows revelations from Spirit Aerosystems, a major supplier, that titanium parts sold to both aerospace giants came with forged verification documents.
Fraudulent Titanium from China
The issue dates back to 2019 when Turkish Aerospace Industries acquired a significant batch of titanium from a Chinese supplier. This titanium was later sold globally. By the end of 2023, Italy's Titanium International Group flagged inconsistencies in the metal's appearance and authentication certificates. It emerged that a Chinese company employee had falsified documents to claim the titanium was from the reputable Baoji Titanium Industry, which denied supplying the questionable batch.
Boeing and Airbus Respond
Amid heightened scrutiny, especially for Boeing, the company disclosed to the FAA that it procured material from a distributor who might have falsified records. Boeing emphasized its proactive stance, issuing guidelines to suppliers to detect falsified documents. Both Boeing and Airbus have conducted tests on the suspect titanium components, reporting no immediate issues. Boeing assured that most of its titanium was sourced from another supplier, likely unaffected, while Airbus admitted to buying from the problematic supplier but stated numerous tests showed no defects.
Airworthiness Concerns Persist
Despite these reassurances, Spirit Aerosystems highlighted that the true airworthiness of planes with the suspect titanium remains uncertain due to the loss of traceability in the supply chain. Gregg Brown, Spirit's senior VP for global quality, stressed the importance of traceability from mills to final product, a process now compromised.
As the FAA's investigation continues, the aerospace industry faces significant questions about safety and supply chain integrity, potentially affecting both Boeing and Airbus.
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