Aircraft
Boeing Faces ‘Terrible Teens’ Scenario with Early 777-9s
777X expected to enter service next year
Boeing 777X
The first flight-test Boeing 777-9 taxiing for its first flight in 2019 © David McIntosh/AIN

Boeing faces a 787 “Terrible Teens” scenario with its early-build 777-9s because of the large amount of change incorporation required across the 30-plus 777-9s that have been built since 2019.

These aircraft were assembled then put into storage as the FAA initiated a deep-dive scrutiny following the two 737 Max crashes in October 2018 and March 2019. The second crash resulted in a 21-month grounding when multiple investigations revealed that the FAA had transferred an unprecedented level of authority to Boeing for approvals and inspections through a process in which Boeing employees became FAA representatives while still paid by the company.