One 777X aircraft's structure was discovered to have damage, prompting Boeing to halt tests.

• Boeing announced that it has grounded its four 777X test fleet following the discovery of damage in one of the jetliner's structures.
• The delivery of new wide-body jets, scheduled to begin in 2025, may be delayed due to unclear problems.
• The planes were originally expected to start deliveries in 2020, but they are currently years behind schedule.

The 777X flight tests have been paused by Boeing after discovering damage in one of the aircraft's structures on Monday.

The company discovered damage to a custom part, located between the engine and airplane structure, during scheduled maintenance on one of its 777-9 airplanes. As a result, it has grounded three other 777-9 airplanes in its test fleet. No other flight testing was scheduled for the other aircraft, Boeing stated.

Boeing announced that its team is replacing the part and capturing any learnings from the component before resuming flight testing. The company informed the Federal Aviation Administration and its customers, which have ordered 481 of the 777X, according to Boeing's website.

The grounding and issue of the 737 Max may affect the certification and delivery of the new wide-body jetliners, which are scheduled for 2025, approximately five years behind schedule. Boeing started flight tests of the aircraft with the Federal Aviation Administration in July, marking a significant milestone.

Boeing's leaders, including new CEO Kelly Ortberg, are attempting to move the company beyond a safety crisis that began with a doorplug blowout at the beginning of the year, as reported earlier by The Air Current.