FAA Orders Inspection of 737 Max Aircraft Over Structural Integrity Concerns

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is preparing an official directive to inspect hundreds of Boeing 737 Max passenger aircraft due to potential cracking in a load-bearing structural reinforcement element of the aircraft.

This regulatory action follows findings that if these material defects persist unchecked over extended periods, they could compromise the structural integrity of the affected fuselage sections.

The planned airworthiness directive affects 471 aircraft of the Max 8, Max 9, and the Max 8-200 models within the US jurisdiction. The cracks were discovered during previous inspections in the area of the forward right cargo door.

The FAA's assessment indicates that if small cracks develop at highly stressed points, they can propagate further due to material fatigue.