Officials at Boeing Aircraft say they are putting off the first test flight of their new 787 airliner.
The firm says it needs to reinforce an area within the "side of body" section of the new plane.
The world's second-largest commercial aircraft builder is already two years behind schedule on the innovative aircraft, dubbed the Dreamliner.
The 787 uses more light-weight composite materials than earlier aircraft in an effort to save weight and improve fuel economy by about 20 percent.
The company has not yet decided when to reschedule the first test flight of the 787.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.