FAA Orders Probe of 471 Boeing 737 Jets Over Fuselage Cracks

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered an investigation into hundreds of Boeing 737 jets due to fuselage cracks. The directive affects 471 airplanes, specifically the 737-8, -8-200, and 737-9 models.

The issue may lead to a loss of structural integrity in the aircraft, according to the FAA. Boeing has been aware of the problem since 2019, when it notified operators of the 737NG (Next Generation) fleet.

Boeing provided detailed instructions for conducting inspections and has extended the probe to its MAX aircraft, which shares a similar design and build process as the NG models.