After inspections, Boeing approves tail rudder mother. The hacked toothbrushes are circulating in the media worldwide and are raising questions about how this could have happened

A missing nut on the tail rudder of a Boeing 737 Max alerted the aircraft manufacturer and authorities in December, but the problem turned out to be an isolated case.

Since the end of last year, more than 1,400 machines worldwide have been inspected and found to be in order, Boeing announced on Thursday. Only an inspection is still underway.

The US Federal Aviation Administration officially ordered inspections of the mounting section of 737 Max aircraft on Thursday. However, Boeing’s announcement shows that this was ultimately a formal step. Machines that have already been tested do not need to be inspected again. According to the FAA, Boeing also found an inadequately tightened nut on an aircraft on its production lines. The agency emphasized that the mother’s absence could affect the aircraft’s functionality under certain circumstances.

Quality controls and fasteners have been a major problem at Boeing since a fuselage part tore from a nearly new 737-9 Max in flight in early January. The more than 170 people on board escaped in horror. By a fortunate coincidence, the two seats directly next to the hole in the cabin wall remained empty. The American investigation agency NTSB concluded this week that four mounting bolts were missing from the fuselage fragment. (sda/dpa)