Boeing stops deliveries of 787 Dreamliner jet due to documentation problem

The assembly pause has been lifted, but due to documentation issues discovered over the past week, Boeing has halted deliveries pending a resolution.

“Boeing has temporarily halted deliveries of 787 Dreamliners after informing the FAA that it is conducting additional analysis on a fuselage component,” the FAA said. “Deliveries will not resume until the FAA is satisfied that the problem has been corrected.”

Boeing confirmed the shutdown and said it did not expect it to affect production and delivery guidance for the full year.

Dreamliner deliveries are central to Boeing’s plan to increase sales and cash, as well as provide assurance to suppliers who are increasing their own production of parts for the aircraft and the 737 MAX.

Boeing shares recently fell more than 2.5% in after-hours trading.

The company said the issue was found during a review of certification records, prompted by a supplier analysis error related to the 787’s forward thrust bulkhead, a section in the jet’s nose that has caused problems in the past.

Boeing has about 100 already built 787s awaiting delivery. The FAA must sign off on each delivery.

Boeing had reduced production to about one Dreamliner aircraft per month, but planned to increase this to three per month and then five later this year. It has said it plans to deliver 70 to 80 of the aircraft by 2023, most of them from already built inventory.

Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc.,

SPR 2.12%

one of the largest suppliers of parts for the 787, said it will continue to supply fuselage barrels for the planes to Boeing. The company said it was on track to transfer eight in the first quarter and 40 to 45 this year.

“We have provided all the information Boeing has requested about the 787 over the past two years,” said Spirit AeroSystems.

Boeing delivered three 787s in January and 10 in December, bringing the total to 34 since resumption last August. The FAA said it is working with Boeing to determine any actions that may be necessary for recently delivered aircraft.

Photos: Boeing delivers the last 747

Brian West, Boeing’s chief financial officer, said last week it paused assembly of the 787 at its North Charleston, SC, facility to address issues with the Spirit-built fuselage. Mr West said it was the amount of work rather than a quality issue that led to the unspecified assembly stop.

Tom Gentile, CEO of Spirit AeroSystems, said Thursday that no new production problems have arisen since the FAA’s approval for the resumption of Dreamliner deliveries last summer.

Boeing has 575 orders for the 787 in its backlog and says production is sold out through 2025.

Write to Andrew Tangel at andrew.tangel@wsj.com and Doug Cameron at Doug.Cameron@wsj.com