FAA orders urgent inspections of Boeing 737 NG aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an airworthiness directive requiring inspections of the horizontal stabilizer mechanism on the Boeing 737 NG aircraft family. This directive follows reports from several airlines regarding instability caused by anomalous movements in the tail surface, which controls the aircraft's pitch.

The inspection aims to identify any play or looseness in the mechanism that could degrade control response. Operators are required to perform technical checks and implement necessary adjustments or component replacements based on their findings. This order specifically targets the 737 NG models, including the -600, -700, -800, and -900 series; the 737 MAX models are not included in this directive.

In Spain, the measure affects the fleets of Ryanair and Air Europa. The FAA has not disclosed which specific airlines initially reported the technical concerns. The directive does not mandate a grounding of the fleet but requires proactive maintenance to ensure continued safety margins.