FAA Mandates Inspections for Fatigue Cracks on Dozens of Boeing 787 Planes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an airworthiness directive requiring inspections of dozens of Boeing 787 planes to check for cracks in the wings.

The directive applies to 17 787s operating in the U.S. and 77 worldwide, with more than 1,100 in Boeing's global fleet.

The issue was identified by Boeing during a 2019 investigation, which found that some 'shim gaps' exceeded the size allowed by Boeing's engineering specifications.

The regulator said if left undetected, the cracks could grow and weaken the wing. The FAA stated in its directive that high pull-up forces may cause fatigue cracks to form at the fastener holes, specifically near the lower side of body splice plates, close to the wing skins.