Boeing V-22 and CH-47 Production Lines Shut Due to Possible Sabotage

The AP reports that due to a foreign object being found in the fuel line of a V-22 Osprey preparing for delivery to the USMC that DoD and Boeing have shut down the two lines at the Philadelphia plant. This plant assembles the V-22 tilt rotor aircraft for the USMC and USAF as well as makes the CH-47 helicopter for the Army. Earlier this year a worker was found to have sabotaged two CH-47 aircraft and that also meant the line was shut down. Unfortunately until it can be decided if this was a procedural or manufacturing problem or just vandalism the line will need to be stopped. This means delays and cost to both Boeing and the Services on these contracts. The upgraded CH-47 is critical to the activities of the US Army in Afghanistan. The V-22 has performed very well in Iraq and is replacing old CH-46 aircraft for the Marines. As bad as it sounds one can only hope that it is vandalism as that is a much easier problem to identify and solve then a manufacturing or procedure issue.