In a concerning development, a “missing washer” has been identified on a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by Indian carriers, including Air India Express, SpiceJet, and Akasa. This discovery follows similar findings by airlines globally. Boeing had issued directives to conduct safety checks on the Boeing 737 MAX fleet, urging operators to inspect specific tie rods controlling rudder movement for possible loose hardware.
The Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that inspections on 39 out of the 40 Indian Boeing 737 MAX aircraft have been completed, with no issues found, except for one where a missing washer was identified. The DGCA official stated that rectification actions, as recommended by Boeing, have been taken on the affected aircraft, and inspections on the remaining one will be completed before releasing it for service.
This safety concern emerged prior to the incident in which the emergency exit of a B737-9 MAX blew off midair in the United States. Checks are ongoing for all planes of this version. The Boeing 737 MAX faced a global grounding from March 2019 to December 2020 after two fatal crashes. Following extensive hardware and software modifications, the aircraft was deemed safe and allowed to resume operations.
