The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive after it identified cracks in the fuselage of some Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) 737 family aircraft.
Cracks in the Fuselage
In the directive released on Thursday, the FAA said that the probe covers the 737 family’s 737-8, the 8-200 and 737-9 aircraft. “The FAA estimates that this AD affects 471 airplanes” to be affected by the probe, it said in the report.
The directive, which kicks into effect on September 10, requires Boeing to inspect “the fuselage skin for existing repairs” after identifying “reports of cracks in the bear strap at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout.”
The agency said that the issue “may lead to the inability of the principal structural element to sustain limit loads and adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.”
Boeing Responds to the Directive
Upon Benzinga‘s request for comment, a spokesperson from Boeing said that it “identified and reported this issue” to the authorities and has been engaged with “operators on it over the past six years,” the spokesperson added.
“In 2019, Boeing notified operators of 737NG airplanes of the issue,” the spokesperson said. The plane maker also provided “detailed instructions for conducting the recommended inspections,” they added.
“This issue has not been observed on the 737 MAX fleet, but Boeing extended the inspections to 737 MAX airplanes as the model shares a similar design and build process,” the spokesperson outlined.
The statement also said that the FAA’s Airworthiness Directive mandated the inspections, as it had done for the 737 Next Generation aircraft. “We support both directives and continue to support our airline customers,” the spokesperson said.
Alaska Airlines Incident
In 2024, a Boeing 737-MAX aircraft operated by Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE:ALK) experienced a mid-air cabin blowout, which resulted in the aircraft being temporarily grounded as the mid-air pressure suddenly faced issues and resulted in damage to the aircraft’s fuselage.
The company was also being sued by four flight attendants who were onboard the aircraft for emotional and physical injuries caused by the incident, while also seeking compensation for economic damages in the past and the future.
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