FAA Orders Inspections of Hundreds of Boeing 737 Max Jets for Cracks

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 Max jets due to cracks in the plane's body. The issue was discovered in a structural reinforcement around the forward service door on the right side of the airplane, next to the front galley.

The new airworthiness directive affects an estimated 471 U.S.-registered Boeing 737 Max 8s, Max 9s, and Max 8-200 airplanes. Airlines must inspect the area on a schedule based on each airplane's usage and repair any cracking before returning an affected airplane to service.

Boeing has changed its manufacturing process to address the issue on newly built airplanes, according to the FAA. The agency did not order the aircraft grounded, stating that the required inspection intervals provide multiple chances to detect cracks before they compromise the airplane's structural integrity.