What Happened
US Aviation Regulator Acts Over Safety Concerns
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive requiring inspection of 471 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to check for cracks in the fuselage skin. The directive, which affects Boeing 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, and high-density 737-8200 aircraft, was prompted by reports of cracks in the bear strap. The FAA estimates that the inspections will require one to four hours of work and cost US operators up to $200,175. This latest development comes as Boeing faces another potential issue with passenger seat assemblies on certain 737 MAX aircraft. The airworthiness directive was first reported by AeroTime.