Passenger raises concern about tape on plane's wing

A passenger was completely taken aback after spotting tape on a plane's wing — however, it's not as alarming as you might think.

The passenger shared the picture of what appears to be silver duct tape on the plane's wing on Twitter and seemed to imply that the airline wasn't taking the safety of those onboard seriously.

Yahoo News Australia reached out to the airline the passenger said he was travelling with, but it said it did not believe the image was of one of their planes.

However, it is believed that tape on a plane's wing is actually completely safe and passengers should not be concerned.

"It's paint peeling from the wing surface of a 787," a Twitter user commented on the post.

"Same thing is happening to composite structures on aircraft around the world. It’s not possible to just touch up, or repaint these planes easily. Speed tape is the temporary and SAFE solution till Boeing get it sorted."

Speed tape is used by airlines all around the world and to fix small cosmetic issues with aircrafts.

"It's called speed tape because, when applied, it will adhere to an airplane wing travelling very fast through the air," the Points Guy explained previously.

"It can withstand temperatures ranging from -65°F (-53.8C) to 600°F (315C), and has a cloth layer covered by aluminium foil with a super-strong silicone adhesive, making it thicker than duct tape."

• Qantas backflips on vegetarian meal change: 'Loud and clear'

• Chaos as 200 people escorted by police off 'unscreened' Qantas flight

• The Aussie town where 70 per cent of flights are delayed or cancelled

Paint chipping a common issue with Boeing 787

Qantas previously assured a passenger the tape was "approved by all aircraft manufacturers".

"This is a standard industry practice and meets safety requirements here and overseas," the airline said.

Yahoo News Australia understands there is a global issue related to the paint on Boeing 787s and speed tape is used by many airlines around the world to fix it.

The paint peeling is somewhat of a common occurrence on Boeing 787 aircrafts that have been flying for more than four years.

From 2023, it is expected Boeing will have a new undercoat that will help with the longevity of the paint on the wings.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.