US FAA mandates Boeing 737 MAX rudder loose bolt inspections

The FAA said on Thursday it was formally mandating inspections in Boeing 737 MAX airplanes for loose bolts in the rudder control systems after the planemaker recommended them in December. The FAA said all US airlines had completed the inspections in early January and found no missing or loose rudder bolts. The inspection requirement issued on Thursday, opens new tab fulfills US international continued operational safety obligations. The issue of bolts and Boeing planes has taken on new significance since the National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report this week on the Jan. 5 mid-air emergency of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 that lost a cabin panel at 16,000 feet. The agency said evidence suggested the door panel was missing four key bolts. The NTSB said the panel known as a door plug - fitted into this MAX 9 model in place of an optional exit - could have detached from the plane.<br/>