Boeing revealed on Thursday that there’s more trouble with its hugely popular 737 line of aircraft — this time involving a predecessor to the 737 MAX jets that suffered two fatal crashes within five months in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
The aircraft maker announced that dozens of 737NG (for “Next Generation”) jets have been grounded because of cracks found in the area where the plane’s wings connect to the fuselage.
The 737NG was introduced in 1993 and is the predecessor to the 737 MAX. NG models include four series, the 737 600-900.
Australia’s Qantas Airways joined other carriers, including Korean Air, in taking 737NGs out of service and ordering urgent inspections of others.
“Boeing had previously reported a problem with the model’s “pickle fork” — a part that helps bind the wing to the fuselage,” reports CBS News. “This prompted U.S. regulators to early this month order immediate inspections of aircraft, which had seen heavy use.”
Many 737NGs have seen heavy use: more than 7,000 of the aircraft are in service around the world.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already ordered inspections of 737NGs that had taken off and landed more than 30,000 times.
“But Qantas said it had found the fault in a more lightly used aircraft than those singled out for early checks — one that had recorded fewer than 27,000 flights,” CBS says.
Still, Qantas said calls for it to ground its entire 737 fleet are “completely irresponsible.”
“Even when a crack is present, it does not immediately compromise the safety of the aircraft,” said Chris Snook, the airline’s head of engineering.