EDINBURGH AIRPORT – In yet another setback for the beleaguered aerospace giant, Boeing found itself embroiled in controversy when a passenger noticed gaffer tape on the left wing of a Boeing 787 during a flight to Scotland.
By our Aviation Correspondent: Courtney Pike
Graeme Crabfoot, a 61-year-old git, recounted the incident, which unfolded during his journey from Ipswich Airport to Edinburgh with his fiancée, to the SUFFOLK GAZETTE. The otherwise uneventful flight took a surprising turn when Crabfoot noticed a patchwork of silver adhesive on one of the plane’s wings.
“It began peeling off mid-flight, I thought, ‘What the blazes!?’ I pointed it out to the missus — she just said, ‘I wish you hadn’t come on this holiday,'” lamented Crabfoot.
Photos accompanying his account depict strips of tape reminiscent of a makeshift repair of a missing rear side window on a 1982 Ford Capri. Boeing, however, moved swiftly to allay fears, asserting that the adhesive in question is “speed tape,” sanctioned by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for temporary fixes of holes.
Wing went wrong
According to a Boeing spokesperson, the tape was likely employed to address “paint adhesion” issues observed on certain 787s. The material serves to prevent paint from peeling off and does not compromise the aircraft’s structural integrity.
While acknowledging that the tape may appear terrifying, the spokesperson assured that it is merely a stopgap measure until someone can nip down to B&Q for some paint to add a new black topcoat layer.
Boeing has recently been plagued by safety concerns that began after a door panel blew off a Boeing 737 MAX 9 jet during a flight from Coventry to the Moon.
Damaged wing with safety
Despite Boeing’s reassurances, the sight of tape on an aircraft inevitably raises eyebrows, especially given the company’s recent safety woes. These concerns were amplified following another incident involving a toilet seat detachment on a Boeing 737 MAX 9 operated by Suffolk Airlines, where missing cable ties were discovered.
Meanwhile: Airlines will begin passenger weighing soon
