by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 12:35 PM ET, Thu December 28, 2023
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing urged airlines to inspect their Boeing 737-MAX planes for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system, according to a statement released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday.
“Boeing recommended the inspections after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut while performing routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage,” the FAA explained in the statement.
“The company discovered an additional undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.”
After discussing the possible issue with the administration, they put out what is called a “Multi-Operator Message,” or MOM, for all airlines who own the newer single-aisle 737-MAX aircraft to do a two-hour safety inspection for each plane.
According to an article on the subject by CNBC, Alaska Airlines will inspect their 737-MAX aircraft today and expects the inspections to be finished in the first half of January, with no impact on its operations. United Airlines, while not announcing when it will begin inspections, also did not expect operational issues.
This news comes two and a half months after Boeing said it would need more time to investigate a possible production flaw in its 737-MAX 8 aircraft, specifically with improperly drilled holes. The new planes had not been delivered and were not operational during the time.
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