In a recent development, Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, has issued an advisory urging airlines to inspect their fleets of B737 Max planes. This comes in the wake of the discovery of a bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance conducted by an international operator.
Three major Indian airlines—Akasa Air, SpiceJet, and Air India Express—operate B737 Max planes in their fleets. Boeing, in a statement released on Friday, reassured that the identified issue on the specific airplane has been promptly addressed.
“We have been made aware of this issue by Boeing. Like all operators around the world, and in accordance with our highest standards of safety, Akasa will be following the same checks and procedures that the manufacturer or regulator recommends,” said an Akasa Air spokesperson on Saturday.
The statement also emphasized that Akasa Air’s operating fleet and deliveries remain unaffected at this point.
The US aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), released a statement on Thursday, indicating that it is closely monitoring targeted inspections for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system. Boeing has issued a Multi-Operator Message, advising operators of newer single-aisle aeroplanes to inspect specific tie rods responsible for rudder movement, looking for potential issues with loose hardware.
The FAA is urging airlines to collaborate through their approved Safety Management Systems to identify any previously detected loose hardware and provide details on the expeditious completion of these two-hour inspections.
During regular maintenance, the missing nut was discovered on a part of the rudder control, prompting heightened scrutiny. Additionally, another new plane was found with a nut not properly tightened, according to the FAA.
As the aviation industry responds to this development, Boeing’s directive underscores the ongoing commitment to safety and adherence to rigorous inspection protocols.
Inputs from PTI
