Airbus finds fuselage coating defect on A321neo but says planes remain safe
Airbus discovered a quality issue in the fuselage of its A321neo affecting about 500 jets, but says it does not compromise safety and aircraft can keep operating.
Airbus announced it has pinpointed a quality problem in the fuselage structure of its A321neo, specifically a deviation in the coating applied to longitudinal stringers. The defect involves roughly 500 aircraft, split evenly between those in service and those still being built. Airbus maintains that the problem does not affect flight safety, so operators can continue using the jets while a corrective measure is ready.
The company has contained the source of the issue and offers a remedy, but the discovery has contributed to several months of delivery setbacks as Airbus seeks to raise narrow-body production to 75 units monthly. Customers such as Delta have been advised that no immediate repairs are mandatory, though European regulators may eventually issue a directive requiring fixes within a set timeframe. This marks the second fuselage-related problem for the A321neo in nine months, following panel defects reported last December.
Why it matters
The defect could delay deliveries and affect airline schedules, but safety remains unaffected.
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