Now Reading: FAA orders inspection of Boeing 737 Max jets over cracks
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FAA orders inspection of Boeing 737 Max jets over cracks
The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to inspect 471 Boeing 737 Max jets for cracks in a component that reinforces the front door frame. The directive, effective September 10, covers…
The Story in Brief
The US Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to inspect 471 Boeing 737 Max jets for cracks in a component that reinforces the front door frame. The directive, effective September 10, covers Max 8, Max 9, and 8200 variants. Cracks could compromise the aircraft's structural strength, the FAA said. Boeing said it supports the order and has been working on fixes for six years.
India operates 56 Boeing 737 Max planes: Air India Express (25), Akasa Air (24), and SpiceJet (7), according to the Civil Aviation Ministry. The FAA's directive follows a November 2024 proposal after cracks were found in the bear strap and stub frame near the forward galley door. Separately, The Hindu reported that the FAA also flagged incorrectly installed seats on 453 US-registered Max jets, though that directive's international applicability is unclear.
The Indian Opinion
The FAA's latest directive is another blow to Boeing's already battered reputation, but Indian readers should resist lumping this structural crack issue with the earlier door-plug scare or the 2018-19 crash saga. Different problems, different fixes. The real test is whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which has 56 Max jets in Indian skies, will issue its own order before the FAA's September deadline, or wait for a problem to hit home first.
Sources (2): livemint.com, thehindu.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
