- FAA ordered inspections for 471 US-registered and 1,429 international B737 MAX aircraft
- Cracks found in bear strap at forward galley door cutout on older Boeing jets
- No MAX aircraft affected but preventive checks required due to similar structure
- Similar FAA requirement issued for B737NG aircraft in 2021
- Directive takes effect from 10th September 2026
The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of hundreds of B737-8s, B737-9s, and B737-8-200s after cracks were found in the fuselages of older Boeing aircraft. No MAX aircraft have been affected by the issue so far. As a preventive measure, the regulator adopted a new airworthiness directive (AD) as reports indicated cracks were found in the bear strap at the forward upper corner of the forward galley door cutout on certain older Boeing jets.
The B737 MAX shares a similar structure to B737NG aircraft, where the cracks were initially identified. The FAA issued a similar requirement for B737NG aircraft back in 2021, the Seattle Times reported. Operators must perform visual checks on the B737 MAX jets and repair any issues if detected. The AD affects an estimated 471 aircraft registered in the US, and 1,429 B737 MAX aircraft internationally. The directive takes effect on 10th September 2026.
FAA shared in a written statement: “Operators must perform visual checks on the B737 MAX jets and repair any issues if detected.”
