Boeing 787 Planes Face Inspections Over Wing Cracks Concerns

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final airworthiness directive requiring inspections of dozens of Boeing 787 planes to check for cracks in the wings. The directive affects 17 aircraft operating in the US and 77 worldwide, out of a global fleet of over 1,100.

Boeing identified the concern during an investigation in 2019, which found that some 'shim gaps' exceeded Boeing's engineering specifications. A shim gap forms when mechanics join two parts of the aircraft together, and if left undetected, the cracks could grow and weaken the wing, according to the FAA.

Boeing updated its guidance to operators in August 2025 and has worked with them to update their inspection schedule. The company said that the issue was corrected in production, and airplanes in the global fleet may continue normal operations.