US FAA Orders Inspections of 471 Boeing 737 MAX Planes Over Potential Fuselage Cracks

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections for potential fuselage cracks on Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, CNN reported on the 7th local time.

The inspection order applies to a total of 471 registered Boeing 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, and MAX 8-200 aircraft in the United States.

According to the FAA, cracks were discovered in the reinforcement materials near the forward right-hand exit door, next to the forward galley, on some aircraft of the same model.

Airlines must inspect the designated areas according to a set schedule based on the aircraft's flight cycles and usage level.

However, the FAA did not issue a grounding order for the affected aircraft model.

This decision was made based on the assessment that cracks can be detected within the routine inspection cycle before structural integrity is compromised.

Boeing stated that it has conducted technical analysis to determine the cause of the cracks and is working on design improvements to prevent recurrence.

Following an incident in January of last year where a door plug detached from an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX passenger jet mid-flight, the FAA has conducted intensive investigations into the aircraft family.

According to an investigation by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the accident occurred because four bolts required to secure the emergency exit plug were missing from the time the aircraft was delivered.

Boeing 737 series aircraft have previously faced issues with structural cracks.

In 2019, the FAA also ordered special inspections for 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900 aircraft after cracks were found in the structural components connecting the fuselage to the wings.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.