FAA Orders Inspection of Over 1,400 Boeing 737 Jets Amid Safety Concerns
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of Boeing's 737 MAX jets after cracks were found in structural reinforcements on older-generation 737s. The move affects an estimated 1,429 aircraft worldwide, with 471 U.S.-registered planes included in the review.
No cracks have been found on the MAX so far, but the FAA is taking a precautionary approach to ensure passenger safety. The inspections are not specific to the MAX family, but rather a result of reports involving other 737-family aircraft.
The concern involves the bear strap, a sheet-metal reinforcement beneath the fuselage skin and around door openings and emergency exits. Inspections will cover selected Boeing 737-8, 737-9, and high-density 737-8200 aircraft, but not the entire MAX family.