The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating whether false or incorrect documents were used to verify the authenticity of titanium used in some recently manufactured Boeing and Airbus jets.
The investigation comes after a parts supplier found small holes in the material from corrosion, according to a report by The New York Times, which first reported the issue.
The FAA said Boeing reported a voluntary disclosure “regarding procurement of material through a distributor who may have falsified or provided incorrect records.” The agency added that it is “investigating the scope and impact of the issue.”
Titanium is an important component in the aerospace supply chain, used to make landing gears, blades, and turbine discs for aircraft. The FAA is also investigating the authenticity of titanium used in some Airbus jets, according to the report.
Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier of fuselages for Boeing and wings for Airbus, said “this is about titanium that has entered the supply system via documents that have been counterfeited. When this was identified, all suspect parts were quarantined and removed from Spirit production.”
The company added that “more than 1,000 tests have been completed to confirm the mechanical and metallurgical properties of the affected material to ensure continued airworthiness.”
This investigation comes as aircraft manufacturers, such as Boeing and Airbus, are facing strong demand for new planes due to a surge in post-pandemic travel. However, supply chain issues and component shortages are limiting their ability to meet this demand.
Last year, jet engine manufacturer CFM International disclosed that thousands of its engine components might have been sold with falsified documentation by a British distributor, prompting airlines to change parts on a handful of planes.
Neither Boeing nor Airbus immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comments.