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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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FAA Orders Inspections of Boeing 737s

Hundreds of jets to be checked for loose nut that caused China Airlines fire

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(Newser) – The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to inspect hundreds of Boeing 737s after a loose bolt punctured a China Airlines jet last week, causing a fire that destroyed the aircraft. Southwest, Delta, Continental, AirTran, Alaska Air, ATA and Aloha Airlines have 24 days to check for loose nuts on a wing assembly used during takeoff and landing.

Boeing issued a "service letter" warning about the loose nuts in 2005 after receiving four reports of the problem and determining it could cause a fuel leak, but such letters don't require any action. The Chinese Airline plane caught fire after it landed in Okinawa. All 165 people aboard were evacuated safely. "We and Boeing are still assessing the situation," said an FAA spokesman.

In this photo released Thursday, Aug. 23, 20007 by Japan's Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in Tokyo, a bolt is seen piercing through a fuel tank on the right wing of a China Airlines aircraft which exploded in a fireball just...
In this photo released Thursday, Aug. 23, 20007 by Japan's Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in Tokyo, a bolt is seen piercing...   (Associated Press)
China Airlines jet that exploded in a fireball Monday sits on tarmac at Naha Airport in Okinawa Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
China Airlines jet that exploded in a fireball Monday sits on tarmac at Naha Airport in Okinawa Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)   (Associated Press)
Police and aviation officials examine the remains of the China Airlines jet that exploded into flames, at Naha Airport in Okinawa Tuesday morning, Aug. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
Police and aviation officials examine the remains of the China Airlines jet that exploded into flames, at Naha Airport in Okinawa Tuesday morning, Aug. 21, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)   (Associated Press)
Aviation officials examine a charred China Airlines jet at Naha airport, southern Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, a day after it exploded in flames just seconds after the 165 people aboard escaped. (AP Photo/Kyodo News)
Aviation officials examine a charred China Airlines jet at Naha airport, southern Japan, Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, a day after it exploded in flames just seconds after the 165 people aboard escaped. (AP...   (Associated Press)
Police investigators and air accident experts examine a wrecked China Airlines Boeing 737-800 which exploded into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Kazumasa Tamagami)
Police investigators and air accident experts examine a wrecked China Airlines Boeing 737-800 which exploded into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from...   (Associated Press)
A crewman gets out of the cockpit of a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 through a window, right, just minutes before the plane burst into a fireball at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Hiroshi Tsujimoto)
A crewman gets out of the cockpit of a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 through a window, right, just minutes before the plane burst into a fireball at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern...   (Associated Press)
Passengers flee from a burning China Airlines Boeing 737-800 on inflated emergency slides, right, just minutes before the plane burst into a fireball at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Tomoyasu Yamauchi)
Passengers flee from a burning China Airlines Boeing 737-800 on inflated emergency slides, right, just minutes before the plane burst into a fireball at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern...   (Associated Press)
A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 explodes into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Tomoyasu Yamauchi)
A China Airlines Boeing 737-800 explodes into flames at Naha Airport, Okinawa Prefecture (state), southern Japan, after arriving from Taiwan on Monday, Aug. 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, Tomoyasu Yamauchi)   (Associated Press)
AirTran Airways 50th Boeing 737 Enters Service
AirTran Airways 50th Boeing 737 Enters Service   (Associated Press)
This Aloha Airlines Boeing 737-700 named Koholalele celebrates efforts to preserve Hawaii's unique marine life and ocean environment. It is among those that must be inspected for a loose nut.
This Aloha Airlines Boeing 737-700 named Koholalele celebrates efforts to preserve Hawaii's unique marine life and ocean environment. It is among those that must be inspected for a loose nut.   (Associated Press)
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