Boeing 737 MAX Put Under Mass Inspection Order After Loose Bolt Found in Rudder

The discovery of a missing nut on a key flight control system in a Boeing 737 MAX airplane has prompted a mass inspection order for all newer MAX jets.

A Boeing 737 MAX jet prepares to land at Boeing Field following a test flight in Seattle on Sept. 30, 2020. Elaine Thompson/AP Photo

Boeing Co. is urging airlines to inspect newer 737 MAX aircraft for a possible loose bolt in a key flight control system after an international operator found a bolt with a missing nut in the rudder and Boeing discovered a similar issue on an undelivered plane, according to federal aviation authorities.

The airplane maker has issued a message to multiple operators urging them to inspect specific tie rods that control rudder movement on newer 737 MAX aircraft and check for possible loose hardware, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a Dec. 28 notice.