Boeing Co. has launched an internal investigation after two empty liquor bottles were discovered inside a plane that is designated to join the presidential Air Force One fleet, according to reports.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that two miniature bottles of tequila were found aboard one of two 747-8 jets that are being manufactured in San Antonio for future use by the U.S. president.
Authorities have not revealed exactly where the bottles were found on the aircraft.
Alcohol is prohibited at the Boeing facility, The Journal reported.
Due to contractual reasons, the company has not revealed much else about the incident except to say that it’s a personnel matter, according to Insider.
The two planes under construction are set to replace two 747-200s now in use among a fleet of planes that the commander in chief regularly uses; “Air Force One” is just the designation given to whatever aircraft he is actually on at the time.
The fleet is housed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
For decades, Boeing has held the contract to build the planes that transport the president.
The planes carry a hefty price tag of $5.3 billion to build, according to a 2019 report by DefenseOne.
The Pentagon commissioned the company in 2016 to manufacture two new planes, but because of a delay, it could be 2025 before the jets are delivered, according to a statement in May by Lt. Gen. Duke Richardson, the military deputy for the Air Force’s acquisition, technology and logistics enterprise.
Once completed, the Boeing 747-8 will be the longest commercial passenger jet in the world, the company says.
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