FAA Orders Fuselage Inspections On 737 Max Jets After Crack Reports
The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday, August 6, 2026, ordered fuselage inspections for certain Boeing 737 Max 8, 737 Max 9 and 737-200 aircraft, covering 471 U.S. planes and 1,429 worldwide.[1]
The directive follows reports of cracks in the bear strap reinforcement around the forward service door on some older-generation 737s, though no such cracks have been detected on 737 Max jets so far.[1] Boeing had already extended recommended inspections to the 737 Max fleet in 2024 and said it is conducting a root-cause analysis of the cracking.[1] Southwest Airlines said it will carry out the mandated inspections on affected planes in line with the FAA schedule.[1]
Boeing expanded those recommended checks in 2024 after reports of cracking on older models and has been investigating causes since then.[1] Regulators say the inspections are precautionary while Boeing completes its analysis.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, August 6, 2026, the FAA issued an airworthiness directive ordering fuselage inspections for certain Boeing 737 Max 8, 737 Max 9 and 737-200 aircraft.
- The directive covers 471 airplanes in the United States and 1,429 aircraft worldwide.
- Cracks have been found in the bear strap reinforcement around the forward service door on some older-generation 737s, but none have yet been detected on 737 Max jets.
- Boeing extended recommended inspections to the 737 Max fleet in 2024 and is conducting root-cause analysis of the cracking.
- Southwest Airlines said it will carry out the mandated inspections on affected planes in line with the FAA schedule.
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