SÃO PAULO- Brazilian airline GOL Linhas Aéreas (G3) has returned two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft after only a few months of service, with both jets now stored at Pinal Airpark, Arizona (MZJ) for dismantling. The aircraft reportedly experienced persistent factory-related issues that affected operational reliability.
The two aircraft were delivered to GOL Linhas Aéreas in late 2025 before being withdrawn from service in early 2026. Reports indicate that problems involving CFM LEAP-1B engines and aircraft center of gravity contributed to increased maintenance requirements and operating costs, leading to their early return.
GOL Returned Two Nearly New Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft
Two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft that operated with GOL for less than six months are expected to become the first examples of the type intentionally dismantled for spare parts.
The aircraft, registered PS-GRM (MSN 44009) and PS-GRN (MSN 44029), entered service in late 2025 before being removed from commercial operations in early February 2026.
PS-GRM completed its first flight on July 25, 2025, was delivered to GOL on September 17, 2025, and remained in service for only a few months.
PS-GRN first flew on October 9, 2025, entered the airline’s fleet on November 11, 2025, and was also withdrawn from service in early February 2026.
Following their removal from operations, both aircraft remained parked at Belo Horizonte, Brazil, for approximately seven weeks before being returned to their lessor on March 30, 2026.
Factory Issues Reportedly Led to Early Retirement
According to reports from BrasilAviation.info, both aircraft suffered from chronic factory-related problems.
The reported issues included:
- Problems involving the CFM LEAP-1B engines.
- Aircraft center of gravity concerns.
- Increased maintenance requirements.
- Higher operating costs compared to similar aircraft.
Industry reports stated that the aircraft spent significantly more time in maintenance than other Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in GOL’s fleet. On February 9, 2026, reports indicated that the two jets were consistently performing below operational expectations.
While engine-related maintenance alone would not normally result in aircraft being dismantled, the combination of reported technical issues appears to have made continued operation economically impractical.
Aircraft Headed for Dismantling in Arizona
The aircraft are currently stored at Pinal Airpark (MZJ) in Marana, Arizona, a well-known aircraft storage and recycling facility.
In May 2026, a parts supplier announced the acquisition of two approximately one-year-old Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for teardown. The company described them as the first Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to enter the commercial part-out market, highlighting the availability of low-utilization components.
The lessor has also begun marketing parts removed from the aircraft as first-to-market Boeing 737 MAX material sourced from aircraft with exceptionally low flight hours.
Aircraft Were Not Built in the Same Production Batch
Some reports described the aircraft as belonging to a problematic production batch. However, available manufacturing data suggests otherwise.
The two aircraft were produced more than 100 production line numbers apart, with PS-GRM built as line number 9264 and PS-GRN as line number 9370. This indicates they were not manufactured consecutively.
Sources cited by BrasilAviation.info have indicated that Boeing is reportedly facing legal action related to the issues identified on these aircraft.
At the time of writing, no official statement has been released by Boeing regarding the reported lawsuit. BrasilAviation.info stated that it continues to investigate the matter and will provide updates if additional information or official confirmation becomes available.
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