Boeing 787s come under added scrutiny from US regulator

U.S. aviation safety officials ordered unusual inspections of a sample of four Boeing Co. 787s amid questions about quality issues on the company’s carbon-fiber widebody jetliner.

The Federal Aviation Administration wrote to Boeing on Jan. 11, telling the company it was going to conduct Certificates of Airworthiness inspections on four 787s, according to a letter reviewed by Bloomberg News. The final review before an aircraft is handed over to buyers, known as an AC, has traditionally been delegated to Boeing’s own employees.

“The FAA is taking a number of corrective actions to address 787 production issues,” the agency said in an emailed statement. “One of the actions is retaining the authority to issue ACs for four specific aircraft.