Boeing is advising airlines to inspect 737 Max aircraft for a potential “loose bolt” in the rudder control system, marking the latest quality concern for the company’s top-selling jetliner.
The recommendation came after an “international operator discovered a bolt missing a nut while performing routine maintenance on a rudder-control linkage mechanism,” according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday.
“The company also found another undelivered aircraft with a nut that was not properly tightened.”
Boeing stated that the inspections would take approximately two hours per plane and confirmed that all new 737 Max aircraft would undergo this check before delivery to customers. Boeing reassured that “the issue identified on the specific airplane has been resolved.”
However, the company is advising operators to inspect their 737 Max airplanes as a precaution and report any findings. In afternoon trading, Boeing’s shares fell by more than 1%.
Alaska Airlines plans to initiate the inspections on Thursday and expects to complete them by early January. A spokeswoman indicated that the airline does not foresee any operational disruptions as a result.
United Airlines, a major customer of the 737 Max, also reported that it does not anticipate any operational impacts from the issue, according to a spokeswoman.
American Airlines stated it will carry out the inspections and similarly does not expect any impact on its operations.
