Moses Lake Today

Budget cuts prompted Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to shutter its SpaceJet testing operations in Moses Lake.

Mitsubishi made the announcement on May 22, also stating that it will cease nearly all of its U.S. operations in Washington State.

“Due to the budget directives, Mitsubishi Aircraft will close its overseas locations and consolidate activities at its headquarters in Nagoya, Japan,” Jeff Dronen told the Seattle Times. “This will impact the majority of our employees in the United States.”

One local official thinks Mitsubishi’s Moses Lake test program won't be gone permanently since a few Mitsubishi staff have been tasked with maintaining four tested aircraft currently in storage.

Grant County International Airport Director Rich Mueller told iFIBER ONE News the company will receive the support that it needs.

But it currently remains uncertain if and when test flights would resume, the Seattle Times reported.