March 13, 2026 — Arlington, Virginia Boeing disclosed a Boeing 737 Max wiring flaw delays deliveries issue involving small scratches on wires in a group of undelivered 737 Max aircraft, caused by a machining error during production, leading to rework and first-quarter delivery delays.
The Boeing 737 Max wiring flaw delays deliveries affects produced but undelivered planes, with Boeing performing fixes expected to take days per aircraft to ensure quality standards are met. Production continues at 42 jets per month, with plans to increase to 47 later in the year, and annual delivery targets of around 500 jets remain unchanged, according to Boeing statements.
“Our 737 program is performing rework on a group of airplanes to fix wires that have small scratches due to a machining error,” a Boeing spokeswoman said. “This ensures they meet our quality standards before the airplanes are delivered.”
The company added that production of new 737 Max airplanes proceeds at the existing rate, with some near-term delays impacting first-quarter figures but not year-end totals.
Market Reaction
Boeing shares fell 3.2% in New York trading on March 10 following the announcement, the largest daily drop since November 20, 2025, as reported by the Orange County Register. Another report noted a nearly 1% decline in afternoon trading, highlighting investor concerns amid ongoing quality scrutiny under new CEO Kelly Ortberg.
Safety and Regulatory Response
An engineering analysis determined the scratches do not pose an immediate safety-of-flight issue, and all in-service 737 Max aircraft remain safe to operate. The Federal Aviation Administration is aware of the Boeing 737 Max wiring flaw delays deliveries and reviewing it but offered no further comment.
“All in-service 737 Max airplanes can continue to safely operate.”
Boeing has informed customers and the FAA, with the issue unrelated to prior software or major safety problems in the 737 Max program.
Broader Context
This Boeing 737 Max wiring flaw delays deliveries represents the latest quality hiccup for the narrowbody jet amid efforts to ramp up output following strong February deliveries of 51 jets, including 43 737 Max, the highest monthly total since 2018. Plans include a fourth assembly line at Everett, Washington, targeting 63 jets monthly in coming years. The number of affected aircraft was not disclosed across reports.
