The U.S. aviation authority has mandated inspections for Boeing 737 Max aircraft to check for potential cracks in a critical fuselage component. This directive concerns about 471 planes, with inspections slated to commence in September. The focus is on the bear strap, a structural sheet that provides support around the exit doors of the fuselage. This action follows the discovery of similar cracks in older Boeing 737 Next Generation models, leading to inspections of those aircraft as well.
To date, no cracks have been reported in the 737 Max fleet. However, regulators highlight that the aircraft shares a similar design and manufacturing process with the older models, raising the possibility of encountering the same issue. The aviation authority cautions that any undetected cracks could compromise a major structural element and potentially jeopardize the aircraft’s integrity.
Boeing has been collaborating with airlines regarding this issue since it was first identified in 2019 and has expressed support for the mandatory inspections. The company states that these checks are intended to detect and address any problems before the cracks reach a critical stage.
This development adds to the ongoing scrutiny of the 737 Max, which has faced intensified examination due to previous safety incidents and concerns about manufacturing and engineering quality. The model was globally grounded following two tragic crashes in 2018 and 2019.