Boeing faces checks on hundreds of Max jets for electrical flaw

Boeing will need to inspect hundreds of undelivered 737 Max jets for a potential flaw in their electrical power systems, said people familiar with the matter. About 450 Max planes built since early 2019 could potentially require repairs, a total that includes about 90 aircraft in commercial operation, said the people, who asked not to be named because the matter is private. Boeing earlier Friday instructed airlines to ground dozens of recently delivered 737 Max jets to check for the manufacturing defect. The problem renews scrutiny of the upgraded 737 model, whose success is critical to helping Boeing recover from the coronavirus pandemic after burning through $20b in cash last year. While analysts expect the affected planes to be flying within a few days, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg underscored the heightened concerns around the Max after two fatal crashes prompted the longest jetliner grounding in US history. “We need to make sure there’s full confidence before these specific aircraft return to the air,” he said at a White House briefing. The FAA will closely monitor the situation, he said.<br/>