Dhaka, May 10 -- The first-ever production Boeing 777-9 has taken to the skies from Everett Paine Field in Washington, marking a significant milestone for the long-delayed widebody program.

According to ADS-B data from a flight tracking platform, the aircraft departed at 15:40 local time on May 7, climbing to an altitude of 39,000 feet before returning to base after a roughly three-hour flight. The bare, green-colored aircraft currently bears the tail number N20080.

N20080 is expected to join Lufthansa's fleet next year, as Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg earlier confirmed the German national carrier to be the launch customer for the type.

Lufthansa has a firm order for 20 777-9 aircraft, though deliveries have been pushed back several years ...