Boeing to Announce Further 787 Delays: WSJ

Boeing is close to announcing a further delay to its 787 Dreamliner, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday, sending its stock down more than 4 percent.

Any further delays on Boeing's popular new plane, which is already six months behind schedule, could be costly for the company as it would have to compensate airlines waiting for aircraft.

Boeing's stock, which hit an all-time high last July on strong hopes for new, lightweight 787, fell to its lowest level since September 2006, adding to the decline in Dow Jones industrial average. The shares closed Tuesday down 4.67 percent at $77.86.

The Chicago-based plane maker "continues to experience problems on a variety of fronts," according to the report, threatening to push back the plane's first test flight to June from the current end-March target.

The plane was originally slated for first test flight last August.

Boeing's spokeswoman for the 787 program did not immediately return a call seeking comment. Last week, Boeing did not confirm or deny a blog report that the plane was three weeks behind schedule.