FAA Orders Inspections for 471 Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft Over Potential Fuselage Cracks

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of 471 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft due to concerns about potential fuselage cracks. The directive, which becomes effective on September 10, 2026, requires external visual inspections to detect any existing repairs or stress concentration around the forward galley door opening.

The cracking issue is linked to high operational stresses in the fuselage skin and structural reinforcement, similar to those found on older Boeing 737NG aircraft. The FAA estimates that the initial inspection will require approximately one labor hour per aircraft, with a total cost of $40,035 for all affected US-registered planes.

Boeing had already issued an alert requirements bulletin in December 2024, which prompted the FAA to take preventive action. The regulator has not received reports of such cracks on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft but is taking steps to prevent potential structural integrity issues.