The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of around 1,900 Boeing 737 aircraft over concerns about potentially serious structural defects.
The aircraft covered by the directive include Boeing 737 MAX 8, MAX 9 and 737-8200 models. Of the affected aircraft, 471 are registered for domestic flights in the United States, while the remaining 1,429 operate on international routes, according to CNN.
The FAA said no defects have so far been identified in 737 MAX aircraft. However, the agency wants to determine whether the newer models are affected by a structural problem previously identified in older-generation Boeing 737 aircraft.
The mandatory inspections will focus on a structural component known as a “bear strap”, located around the forward service door near the aircraft’s galley.
According to the FAA, repeated stress caused by cycles of takeoffs and landings over time could lead to cracks developing near the corners of the door.
Boeing said it first alerted operators of older-generation 737 aircraft about the issue in 2019 and issued inspection guidelines at the time.
The company also said operators were encouraged in 2024 to inspect certain MAX aircraft manufactured since then because of similarities in their design and manufacturing processes.
A Boeing spokesperson told CNN that the company is investigating the root cause of the cracking and taking steps to prevent similar problems from occurring in future aircraft.
Airlines to comply with inspections
Major US airlines, including Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, said they would comply with the FAA’s inspection directive.
United Airlines said it expects the inspections to have no significant impact on its operations.
The FAA’s order comes as Boeing continues to face heightened scrutiny over the safety and manufacturing quality of its commercial aircraft. The latest inspection requirement is precautionary, and the FAA has not reported any confirmed structural defects in the affected 737 MAX aircraft.
