Boeing is advising airlines to assess their 737 Max aircrafts for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control systems.
Boeing called for the inspections after an international operator discovered a bolt with a missing nut, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
The rudder of an airplane is used to control the aircraft while it is in flight.
“The issue identified on the particular airplane has been remedied,” Boeing said.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are recommending operators inspect their 737 Max airplanes and inform us of any findings. We informed the FAA and our customers and will continue to keep them aware of the progress.”
The FAA noted it was “closely monitoring targeted inspections of Boeing 737 Max airplanes to look for a possible loose bolt in the rudder control system.”
Boeing has advised that the tests, which should only take about two hours, be performed within the next two weeks.
Any issues involving a defective rudder would almost certainly be found during a pre-flight check, as pilots frequently inspect the rudder system before flying, according to the airplane manufacturer.
According to Anthony Brickhouse, an air safety expert at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, airlines “need to take it seriously.”.
“But as a member of the flying public, I don’t see this as an issue to be concerned about,” he told reporters.
The airplane manufacturer’s stock was down 1% in lunchtime trading.
The airplane manufacturer’s 737 Max was authorized to carry passengers again by US regulators in 2020 after being grounded for 20 months globally following two horrific accidents in Ethiopia and Indonesia that killed 346 people.
