FAA Orders Crack Inspections on Hundreds of Boeing 737 Max Jets

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets after discovering cracks in a structural component near the plane's forward service door. The directive, issued this month, affects an estimated 471 US-registered Max 8, Max 9, and Max 8-200 aircraft.

The FAA said that undetected damage in the affected area could compromise the plane's structural integrity over time, prompting the mandatory inspection window. Inspectors found cracks in a reinforcement panel located next to the front galley, on the right side of the aircraft.

This development comes just days after the FAA certified the 737 Max 7, the smallest variant in the family, clearing it for production after nearly a decade of review tied to the fallout from two fatal Max crashes in 2018 and 2019. The certification reflects growing FAA confidence in Boeing's quality and safety processes at its factories.

However, the crack inspection order is a reminder that Boeing's safety and manufacturing issues have not fully receded even as the company works to rebuild trust with regulators and airlines. The FAA has not indicated whether the crack issue could delay Max 7 deliveries already scheduled for later this year.