FAA Orders Crack Checks on 471 Boeing 737 Max Aircraft

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to inspect 471 Boeing 737 Max aircraft for cracks in a structural reinforcement around the forward service door. The directive requires operators to inspect the affected area according to a schedule based on each aircraft's usage and repair any cracks detected before returning the plane to service.

The FAA said the directive is necessary to address an unsafe condition that could compromise the structural integrity of part of the plane. Boeing, the manufacturer of the 737 Max, has been working with airline customers on the issue for six years after identifying it in 2021.

Boeing stated that they have already conducted an engineering analysis and are working on changes to prevent future cracking. The FAA's directive will take effect on September 10, but the regulator emphasized that the inspection intervals provide multiple opportunities to detect cracks before they can compromise the structural integrity of the aircraft.