Read more: How Ethiopia Airlines' Boeing 737 Max crash triggered an aviation crisisĪ Boeing spokesperson said the manufacturer was aware of the incident and was collaborating with Southwest to learn more, the Associated Press reported. She said the pilots had 'followed standard procedures by descending to a lower altitude to maintain a safe and comfortable cabin environment' and that the move 'resolved the issue.'Īgnew added that the jet was now in a maintenance facility undergoing repairs of the crack.

Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew said the aircraft had been inspected for any cracks within the required 1,500-flight period. The airline said it generally used the aircraft on domestic routes, flying primarily between major cities as well as shorter-haul trips to New Zealand.Ī spokesman for Australia's aviation regulator said the industry response was about 'nipping a potential safety problem in the bud by taking proactive action now'.Īustralia's Virgin Airways also conducted checks on its 17 Boeing 737NG planes and did not find any issues, the regulator spokesman added.The FAA said an inspection discovered the crack in the skin of the plane's crown but that it was too early to say whether the frequency of inspections should be increased.Īirlines are required to inspect the skin of a plane's crown behind the cockpit every 1,500 flights. 'This aircraft has been removed from service for repair,' Qantas said in a statement, adding it had hastened its inspections of 32 other 737NG planes to be completed by Friday. Federal Aviation Administration had initially ordered immediate checks of Boeing 737NG planes that had flown more than 30,000 times.īut 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. But the discovery has heightened fears that the scale of the 737NGs' problem may have been underestimated.

Pmdg 737 crack updates