Boeing Says No Airplanes In Service Are Impacted

Hairline cracks have been discovered on 42 Dreamliners on Boeing's assembly lines, but the company says the problem is limited to airplanes that are still under construction.

Boeing said in a statement Friday that none of the 122 Dreamliners it has delivered to customers is affected by the new development, which it estimates will take "several weeks" to repair.

USA Today reports that the cracks are less than an inch long and have appeared along internal "shear ties" where the aluminum wing ribs attach to the composite skin. Boeing spokesman Mark Birtel says the repair involves trimming the affected area and applying a fabricated piece of aluminum, which will take a week or two for inspection and repair of each wing.

The defects were discovered on airplanes being manufactured in both Everett, WA and North Charleston, SC, according to Birtel. "We are confident that the condition does not exist in the in-service fleet," the company said in an e-mailed statement. Birtel said the FAA is "aware" of the problem, and has been invited to inspect the repairs.

FMI: www.boeing.com