Boeing 787 Inspections Ordered Over Fatigue Crack Concerns
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an order for inspections of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft due to concerns about possible fatigue cracks in wing-related structural components. The directive affects 94 planes worldwide, with 17 operating in the US and 77 elsewhere.
Boeing identified the issue during a 2019 investigation, which found that excessive shim gaps and high pull-up forces could contribute to fatigue cracks developing around fastener holes. Fatigue cracks can weaken the aircraft's structure if left undetected.
The FAA's final airworthiness directive requires operators of affected aircraft to inspect structural components for possible cracks. Boeing says the issue was corrected in production, but the company will still work with operators to revise inspection schedules.