Dozens of Boeing 737NG planes grounded globally over cracks
BOEING announced on Thursday that dozens of its popular 737NG planes had been taken out of service after cracks in them were detected, marking another setback for the crisis-stricken US aircraft maker.
The new difficulties compound the troubles facing the US manufacturer, which has faced tumbling profits, federal scrutiny and calls for its CEO to resign after deadly crashes involving the 737 MAX, the successor aircraft for the 737NG. Australian national carrier Qantas said it had found cracks in three of its 737NGs and removed them from service for repairs, after inspecting 33 jets which had flown more than 22 600 times — the threshold set by US regulators for such inspections.
Crisis-hit Boeing faced fresh safety concerns Thursday, as the firm admitted cracks were found in up to 50 of its popular 737NG planes following worldwide inspections.
Nine of the planes were grounded in South Korea this month, including five operated by Korean Air, according to authorities in Seoul. US carrier Southwest Airlines has taken three planes out of service due to the problem.
Several other leading carriers said inspections had not turned up cracks on their aircraft.
Boeing had previously reported a problem with the model’s “pickle fork” - a part which helps bind the wing to the fuselage.
US regulators earlier this month ordered inspections of older NG aircraft, directing that planes with more flying hours to be checked within seven days.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson said operators could not fly the planes until the issue was addressed.
A Boeing spokesperson on Thursday said in Sydney that fewer than 5% of 1 000 planes had cracks detected and were grounded for repair.
Boeing and Qantas stressed travellers should not be concerned.
“We would never fly an aircraft that wasn’t safe,” said Andrew David, the CEO of Qantas Domestic, adding that the airline considered the 737NGs to be “very reliable”.
“Even where these hairline cracks are present they’re not an immediate risk, which is clear from the fact the checks were not required for at least seven months.” — AFP
SA Cabinet will consider minority report on land reform
Expropriation without compensation was one of a range of methods to obtain land for land reform purposes, and they needed to look at a “plethora” of methods, Ramaphosa said.
“In the end, we need to make sure that the land is returned to the people of South Africa.”
He said this would not be done recklessly, adding that giving people tenure and title deeds were also required. — AFP