Prosecutors in Italy seized components that were intended for Boeing 787 aircraft production yesterday due to the failure to meet technical standards. Police seized titanium and aluminum parts at the Grotaglie facility of Italian aerospace, defense, and security powerhouse Leonardo.

Supply chain woes

CNBC reports that the parts were made by two small companies, Processi Speciali and Manufacturing Process Specification (MPS), previous sub-suppliers to Leonardo. The pair of firms are under investigation from prosecutors in Brindisi, Italy. Notably, as per the prosecutors, Leonardo is the injured party in the investigations.

According to CNBC, the prosecutors said in a statement their investigations hinted that the parts “were produced using titanium and aluminum of different quality and origin from those prescribed by the customer and in breach of the relevant technical specifications.”

The prosecutors added that the components were intended “for the production of sections 44 and 46 of the Boeing 787 fuselages."

Leonardo 787
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner entered service in 2011. Photo: Leonardo

A valuable partner

Leonardo is a key player in the manufacturing process of the 787 Dreamliner. The company, which has nearly 75 years of industry experience, is proud of its role in the production cycle.

“As a Boeing strategic risk sharing partner, we develop and manufacture about a 14% share of 787’s airframe: the horizontal stabilizer at its Foggia plant, both central fuselage sections at its innovative plant in Grottaglie through “one piece barrel” advanced technology, plus frames, shear-ties in Pomigliano D’Arco and metal alloy machined parts in Nola,” Leonardo shares on its website.

“The Dreamliner is built with a record 50% composite materials by weight. Currently, the 787 widebody family is composed by the 787-8 able to carry up to 242 passengers, the stretched 787-9 model carrying up to 290 passengers on routes up to 7,600 NM and also the latest double stretched 787-10, carrying up to 330 passengers.”

Composite - Leonardo
Leonardo is a multinational company that has roots dating back to 1948. Photo: Leonardo

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Across the industry

In October, Boeing shared that some 787 parts that came from MPS were not manufactured properly over the past three years but said that the quality issue did not impact the immediate safety of services. Nonetheless, the company contacted the FAA about the situation. Ultimately, undelivered aircraft will be reworked and units in service will be reviewed by Boeing and the FAA. The fixes are expected to cost up to $1 billion.

Altogether, Boeing and Leonardo will be keen to address these supply issues. The 787 has become the flagship member of numerous fleets over the last decade. More than 1,000 units have been produced since 2007, with the orders and deliveries continuing into the new year. For instance, just last month, Air Tanzania ordered a 787-8 for its operations. The type is an integral member of the airline's fleet for its balance of efficiency and comfort on long-haul missions, factors that operators all across the globe appreciate.

Simple Flying reached out to Boeing and Leonardo for comment on the story but did not hear back from the companies before publication. We will update the article with any further announcements.

What are your thoughts about the seizure of parts intended for Boeing 787 aircraft production? What do you make of the overall situation? Let us know what you think in the comment section.