Second Boeing jet starts return from China, tracker shows

A second Boeing 737 MAX jet bound for a Chinese airline is returning to the U.S., highlighting the growing impact of escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

A second Boeing 737 MAX jet originally intended for a Chinese airline is en route back to the United States, flight tracking data showed on Monday, as escalating trade tensions between Washington and Beijing disrupt aircraft deliveries.

The aircraft departed from Boeing’s Zhoushan completion center near Shanghai on Monday morning and was headed for Guam, a routine stop on the trans-Pacific journey back to the company’s U.S. production facility in Seattle, according to data from AirNav Radar. The Zhoushan center is where Boeing carries out final work and delivery of planes destined for Chinese carriers.

Just a day earlier, a similar 737 MAX jet bearing the livery of China's Xiamen Airlines made the return journey from Zhoushan and landed at Boeing Field in Seattle.

It remains unclear who decided to send the jets back to the United States. Boeing has not yet issued a statement regarding the situation.

The development comes as U.S. President Donald Trump recently raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, prompting a retaliatory 125% tariff from Beijing on American goods. Analysts say the cost burden of these duties could make it financially unfeasible for Chinese airlines to take delivery of new U.S.-made aircraft, such as the 737 MAX, which has an estimated market value of around $55 million, according to aviation consultancy IBA.

The aircraft involved in Monday’s return flight had arrived in Zhoushan less than a month ago.

This latest disruption highlights the growing strain on the aerospace industry, which had long benefited from duty-free trade practices. The renewed tariff battle adds to challenges Boeing has faced following a nearly five-year import freeze on the 737 MAX in China, itself triggered by earlier trade disputes.

Analysts warn that continued uncertainty over tariffs could delay or derail future aircraft deliveries, with some airline executives reportedly considering deferrals rather than absorbing the high costs of import duties.

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