SEATTLE, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Plagued by delays in two of its airliner programs, Boeing Co. has removed the executive in charge of one of them, officials with the U.S. plane maker say.
One day after admitting another delay for its flagship 787 Dreamliner, the company removed Mohammed Yahyavi as head of its 747-8 jumbo jet program in Everett, Wash., The Seattle Times reported Friday.
Airplane Programs Vice President Pat Shanahan will assume greater oversight of the 747 program, the company announced.
The 747-8 is a stretch version of Boeing's iconic 747 jumbo jet. A freighter version will be built first, followed by one for passengers seating 467 people to compete with Airbus's 525-seat A380.
Although scheduled for delivery this year, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Chief Executive Officer Jim Albaugh said delivery of the 747-8, like that of the Dreamliner, could slip into next year.
Last fall, Boeing unexpectedly announced the scheduled November first flight for the 747-8 would happen early this year instead, a year beyond its original schedule.
The delay pushed possible delivery into the fourth quarter of this year or possibly beyond, the Times said.
