The FAA has expressed significant worry regarding the use of counterfeit Chinese titanium in Boeing and Airbus aircraft, fearing potential mid-air structural failures. According to a report from the Financial Times on Friday, Boeing has acknowledged that certain components of their aircraft incorporate fake titanium sourced from China.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Boeing informed officials that they had received titanium parts accompanied by counterfeit documentation. These parts were purchased from Spirit AeroSystems, an aerostructure manufacturer based in Kansas. The New York Times reported that Spirit AeroSystems obtained the titanium from China, where documentation for the material was allegedly falsified.

The FAA stated, “Upon discovering that counterfeit titanium had entered the supply chain, we promptly isolated all suspected parts to assess the extent of the problem.”

According to sources cited by the New York Times, the origins of the issue trace back to 2019 when Turkish Aerospace Industries purchased a batch of titanium from a Chinese supplier and subsequently sold it to multiple other suppliers. Among these was the Italian company Titanium International Group, which observed discrepancies in the titanium it received in December 2023. The material appeared different from what they typically received, and the accompanying certificates raised suspicions of inauthenticity.

The origin of the titanium remains unclear. Titanium International Group (TIG) previously sold some of the questionable titanium to Spirit AeroSystems and informed them upon discovering the forged paperwork, emphasizing they were unaware of its falsification at the time of sale.

After initiating an investigation, Spirit AeroSystems informed Boeing and Airbus in January that they were unable to verify the titanium’s origin. Sources informed the New York Times that the deception originated with a Chinese supplier who falsely represented the titanium as originating from the reputable Baoji Titanium Industry, although Baoji Titanium denies any association or sale of the disputed batch.

Consequently, the titanium’s source remains uncertain, and affected parts are expected to undergo monitoring and replacement during routine maintenance procedures.

Spirit AeroSystems has engaged in agreements with two freight carriers to handle 757 inlet cowling work through GAMECO. In February, Spirit entered into a contract with YTO Cargo Airlines, headquartered in Hangzhou, China. Additionally, in September 2021, Spirit signed a 10-year agreement with SF Airlines, a cargo carrier based in Shenzhen, China.

Notably, Spirit AeroSystems manufactured the door for the 737 Max aircraft, which experienced a door blowout on January 5, marking the beginning of Boeing’s recent series of issues.