United States (U.S.) aircraft manufacturer Boeing grounds 50 planes due to cracks found in the wings of its 737NG models.
Gabrielle Jacobs reported on Getaway that:
‘Australia’s national carrier Qantas recently took the decision to ground one of its Boeing 737NG (Next Generation) craft out of concern for safety after cracks were found in the wings. This prompted further inspections of 1,000 Boeing craft after which less than 5% (or up to 50 planes) were grounded.’
Domestically, SA Flyer Magazine Editor Guy Leitch on Talk Radio 702 said that all SAA and Comair (operated by Kulula.com and British Airways) have 737NG in their fleets. Only one, he said, was found with these ‘cracks’ three weeks ago and could not fly.
These cracks are not new to the manufacturer. ‘Boeing had previously reported a problem with the model’s “pickle fork” – a part that helps bind the wing to the fuselage,’ RTÉ reported.
Last week on Oct. 22, 2019 Magrush.co.za published a story where SAA and Comair maintenance of their aircrafts did not meet aviation regulatory [South African Civil Aviation Authority – SACAA) standards. An overnight inspection by SACAA led to operators halting planes from flying for a day citing precautionary and safety reasons.
RTÉ said: ‘The US Federal Aviation Administration had initially ordered immediate checks of Boeing 737NG planes that had flown more than 30,000 times.’
Qantas intervention to halt 737NG arose ‘after authorities in Seoul said nine of the planes were grounded in South Korea in early October, including five operated by Korean Air,’ RTÉ reported.
Boeing is still smarting over reputational damage emanating from two fatal crashes of 737 Max ending 346 lives in one plunge.
Indonesian Lion Air Boeing 737Max, Business Insider reported that it crashed into the sea in less than 13 minutes on Oct. 2018, killing all 189 people on board.
BBC published the Ethiopian Airlines 737Max crash:
‘The captain and first officer followed safety procedures recommended by Boeing. But they couldn’t stop the aircraft going into a fatal dive shortly after take off from Addis Ababa on 10 March, the report by Ethiopian investigators said. All 157 people on board were killed.’
It (Ethiopian Airlines 737Max) nosedived and perished after ‘six minutes of flight,’ according to Reuters.
U.S. Authorities ordered a worldwide recall and grounding of the defective 737Max which took over from 737NG. Bloomberg posted that 737Max was the best-selling aircraft at the time.
According to the BBC, the ‘faults with the plane’s design have been linked to both crashes.’
Airline operators and aviation authorities across the world have taken it upon themselves to inspect thoroughly and straitjacket jet suppliers putting profits before the safety of passengers and crew members by short-circuitimg production processes.