Boeing was forced to delay the first test flight of its much-anticipated 777X jet for a second time due to bad weather.
The US plane maker had originally scheduled the flight for January 23, but was forced to delay due to the conditions.
And when it tried again on January 24, it was once again thwarted by the weather at its production facility in Everett, Washington.
It was providing updates on Twitter and appeared and confirmed it was "on track" as it made its final checks.
However, the company then confirmed the plane was "holding at the end of the runway due to inclement weather", and hours later confirmed that the flight had been cancelled for the day. Boeing said it would try again at 10am local time on January 25.
"Wind levels prevented us from flying today. We will continue to provide updates on our website and through social media," Boeing tweeted.
Boeing then explained why other aircraft were able to fly in the locality, but the 777X had to stay grounded.
"Flight tests, first flights in particular, have special requirements that are more stringent (like wind strength & direction for takeoff) than for certified airplanes. For this reason, commercial flights departed Paine Field today but the #777X couldn't," it said.
The 777X programme is already behind schedule after a number of mishaps during production. It was originally slated to be delivered during the middle of this year, but is instead expected to be delivered in 2021.
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Inside Boeing's new 777X. Courtesy Boeing -
The economy class section of the 777X. Courtesy Boeing -
The windows are said to be larger than previous 777s. Courtesy Boeing -
A blind slides down to block the exterior light. Courtesy Boeing -
The new overhead bins. Courtesy Boeing -
Boeing says passengers can expect a smoother ride. Courtesy Boeing
Emirates, the biggest customer of the 777X, ordered 24 fewer planes of the 777X from a total of 126 planes during the Dubai Airshow in November, down from an original order of 150 jets in 2013.
The jet will come in two variations – the 777-8 and 777-9. The 777-8 will seat between 350 to 375 passengers, while the other variant can carry 400 to 425, both in a two-class configuration.
Boeing said it will have 12 per cent lower fuel consumption and 10 per cent lower operating costs than its competition.
Its features include folding wing tips, allowing an extended span of seven metres to maximise fuel efficiency, larger windows and "smoother ride technology".
The aircraft faces extra scrutiny from regulators amid Boeing's crisis with the 737 Max which has been grounded since March after two fatal crashes that resulted in the death of 346 people.
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50 years of the Boeing 747
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The 747 takes off for its first flight in 1969. All images courtesy Boeing -
Flight attendants pose in front of the jumbo jet. -
The Boeing 747 next to the 707. -
Crowds tour the 747 for a closer look. -
The iconic 747 nose. -
A close-up of the early 747 engines. -
A mock-up of the 747 interior. -
The first 747 flight in 1969. -
A 747 byline on the occasion of the Queen of the Skies 50th first flight anniversary. All photos by Boeing -
The flight crew for the first flight in 1969. -
A 747 byline on the occasion of the Queen of the Skies 50th first flight anniversary. All photos by Boeing -
Joe Sutter headed the design team and has since been known as the “Father of the 747.” -
The first 747 flight in 1969. -
A 747 byline on the occasion of the Queen of the Skies 50th first flight anniversary. All photos by Boeing -
Pan Am 747s in the factory. -
Model mock-ups of the 747. -
Crowds queue to board a 747 at an air show. -
The first 747 flight in 1969. -
The 747 marked the first commercial use of the high bypass turbofan engine. -
A Boeing 747-400 flies alongside a 737-400. -
Balast tanks during the assembly of the 747. -
A stamp on the side of the Boeing plant at Everett, Washington. -
747 project test pilot Jack Waddell.
