Boeing has recommended a comprehensive inspection of all 737 Max airplanes following the discovery of a missing nut in the rudder-control system during routine maintenance by an undisclosed international airline, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) on Thursday.
Boeing identified a similar issue with an undelivered 737 Max during subsequent investigations. Encouraging airlines to examine all 1,370 737 Max aircraft delivered globally since 2017 for potential loose bolts, Boeing assured that the problem found on the specific airplane in question has been addressed.
The F.A.A. is closely monitoring the inspections and will consider further action if additional instances arise. While Boeing emphasized that no in-service incidents resulted from the potential loose hardware, it recommended cautionary inspections, lasting approximately two hours per plane. Major U.S. carriers, including United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, operate the 737 Max, but they do not anticipate significant operational disruptions due to the inspections.
The troubled history of the 737 Max includes fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, leading to global grounding, subsequent modifications, and a lengthy recertification process by the F.A.A.
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