FAA Orders Inspections for Nearly 500 Boeing 737 MAX Jets

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of 471 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft registered in the US due to potential structural issues affecting a fuselage reinforcement component. The so-called 'bear strap' is located near the forward service door and cracks could compromise the integrity of the fuselage over time.

The airworthiness directive will take effect on September 10 and applies to the 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, and 737-8200 models. Boeing said it's working closely with the FAA and airline operators and has already introduced manufacturing changes on newly built aircraft to eliminate the issue.

Boeing remains under scrutiny following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that led to the worldwide grounding of the aircraft, as well as a mid-air door plug blowout incident in January 2024. The FAA's latest action reinforces its proactive approach in addressing potential structural issues before they become safety risks.

Boeing has emphasized that similar issues were previously identified on some Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft, but no comparable cases have been found in the in-service 737 MAX fleet.