US aviation regulator orders precautionary inspection of Boeing 737 Max planes

In a globally reported advisory carried by international and other news outlets, the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered inspections of hundreds of Boeing 737 Max planes following reports of cracks in some older models. Cayman Airways has four state-of-the-art Boeing 737-8 aircraft in its fleet.

Reporting on the development, the Associated Press(AP) news agency said that, so far, no cracks have been found in these specific Max models. But when proposing the rule back in November, the FAA noted it had received reports of cracks in a forward ‘bear strap’ for several older, “Next-Generation” 737 planes. Bear straps are metal sheets that reinforce areas on planes like doorways and emergency exits.

The aviation industry publication, AeroGlobalNews, also updated that the US aviation regulator has ordered inspections of the Boeing 737 Max series to check for possible cracking around the forward galley door. It said the new airworthiness directive applies to certain Boeing 737-8, 737-9, and high-density 737-8200 aircraft. The FAA estimates that 471 US-registered jets are affected. The rule takes effect on September 10, 2026.

AeroGlobalNews also reported that the directive follows reports of cracks in a structural reinforcement known as the “bear strap” at the upper-forward corner of the forward galley door opening.

According to the FAA, cracking in the bear strap and adjoining fuselage skin could prevent the structure from sustaining its required design loads and “adversely affect the structural integrity of the aeroplane.”

It said operators must conduct a visual inspection of the fuselage skin to identify any existing repairs in the affected area.

In its reporting of the issue, the US network CBS said that, “in a statement provided to CBS News, Boeing said it first notified operators of its 737 Next Generation planes of the issue in 2019, when it provided them with ‘detailed instructions for conducting the recommended inspections.”

Boeing said that although the issue has not so far been observed in its 737 Max fleet, in 2024, it “extended the inspections to 737 MAX airplanes as the model shares a similar design and build process” to its Next Generation model.

According to CBS, Boeing said it is also conducting analysis to determine the root cause of the cracks and prevent them in future aircraft.

Meanwhile, in an earlier statement effective July 20th, the FAA had said it was allowing Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates at the end of the production process for all 737 MAX and 787 airplanes. “The decision follows months of thorough data and safety review demonstrating consistent production quality and reflects the FAA’s confidence in Boeing’s ability to issue airworthiness certificates under FAA oversight.”

In September 2025, the FAA allowed Boeing to resume issuing airworthiness certificates for some 737 MAX and 787 airplanes. Boeing and the FAA issued the certificates on alternating weeks. During the past eight months, the FAA has seen comparable production quality findings when Boeing issued airworthiness certificates and when the FAA issued them.

The FAA said, based on these results, it determined it can safely return this responsibility to Boeing. It also said then that it will continue inspections, audits, and monitoring of Boeing’s production system, including critical assembly activities, production quality trends, and compliance with approved type design and engineering requirements.