Boeing (BA.US) resumes 777X test flights after a five-month delay.

On January 16, Boeing (BA.US) resumed test flights of its delayed 777X wide-body jet, marking the company's first flight since it grounded its test fleet in August. The company said it would continue to execute a rigorous testing plan to demonstrate the safety, performance, and reliability of the 777-9.

Boeing had conducted certification flight tests for the 777-9 just five weeks before its August grounding. The company said it discovered damage to the thrust reverser during routine maintenance following the first flight. The company said the part "did not meet performance requirements," according to a statement. Boeing said it planned to replace the engine mount and said it was "ready to resume flight testing" once the part was installed.

The 777X is the successor to the Boeing 777, one of the most successful long-range commercial jets. Boeing originally planned to deliver the first 777X to its first customer, Qatar Airways, in 2020. However, delays caused by component failures and a seven-week strike at the end of 2024 forced Boeing to push back the first delivery of the 777X to 2026.

Boeing has 481 777X orders, according to Cirium, an aviation industry analysis firm, including 170 from Emirates and 60 from Qatar Airways. Other customers include Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.