After the announcement of the official closure of the SpaceJet project by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), photos appeared on social networks showing one of the seven prototype planes produced being destroyed by a backhoe at Grant County International Airport (MWH), in Moses Lake. 

The aircraft in question in the photos is a Mitsubishi SpaceJet M90 registration JA21MJ (MSN 10001), which, depending on the configuration, could carry up to 88 passengers. 

I haven't lost time 😔
You are lost to one of them #MRJ which was at Moses Lake for flight tests, after the cancellation of the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries regional jet program which had more than 450 aircraft ordered.

📸 Wade Sackett pic.twitter.com/1KlPfhFpPR

- On The Wings of Aviation (@OnAviation) March 8, 2023

Mitsubishi's troubled MRJ program

Presented for the first time in 2007 and with several delays in its schedule, the SpaceJet program aimed to serve the regional market, competing directly with Embraer, including the concept used by the Japanese is very similar to the E-Jets. The SpaceJet M90. The project was Japan's first dedicated development of a regional passenger jet. 

Initially baptized as Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the project had two variants previously known as MRJ-90 and MRJ-70, renamed in 2019 with SpaceJet M90 and M100, respectively. None of the SpaceJet prototypes has completed FAA certification, with more than $7,5 billion spent on the program. 

Development was suspended at the end of 2020, after the manufacturer failed to deliver the first aircraft for the sixth time, with All Nippon Airways having the first order scheduled for 2013. In general, the Japanese manufacturer emphasized that it did not have a competitive product and the level capable of attracting customers, as well as the lack of understanding and agreement between its global partners. 

Furthermore, one of the most targeted markets for the Japanese jet was North America, in which Embraer has a large presence. SpaceJet failed to meet the expectations and needs of the North American market, in addition to the situation being aggravated by the growing lack of pilots in the market.

With only six prototypes remaining, five have been stored in Grant County (MWH) since 2020, while one unit is at Nagoya Airport (NKM), Japan, as reported by the portal. aerotime.

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With information: aerotime