The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States stated on Monday (September 30) that over 40 foreign airline operators are currently using some Boeing 737 aircraft with potentially unsafe rudder components.
According to the report by Reuters, following an incident on a United Airlines flight in February this year, the NTSB issued an urgent safety recommendation last Thursday, indicating that the rudder control system of some Boeing 737 aircraft may be prone to malfunctions.
The federal investigative agency also disclosed on Monday that it had learned of two similar incidents involving foreign operators in 2019, both related to issues with the rudder control system.
NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy wrote in a letter to FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, “We are concerned that other airlines may not be aware of the actuators on their 737 aircraft.”
The NTSB is investigating an incident from February, where a United Airlines 737 MAX 8 aircraft experienced a “jam” in the rudder pedals while landing at Newark Airport in New Jersey. The 161 passengers and crew onboard were unharmed.
Last Thursday, the NTSB stated that no U.S. airlines have any Boeing 737 aircraft with these safety-risk actuators installed.
The agency stated that there could be 271 of these components installed on aircraft operated by at least 40 foreign airlines, with an additional 16 possibly still installed on U.S.-registered aircraft and up to 75 potentially used for aftermarket installation.
The NTSB and FAA have not identified which airlines may still be using these components.
The FAA’s committee responsible for corrective action reviews held a meeting last Friday. The agency stated that it is taking swift action, holding teleconferences with affected civil aviation authorities to ensure they receive the necessary information, including recommended actions.
The NTSB criticized Boeing for not informing United Airlines of this safety issue and expressed concerns that other airlines may also be unaware of the actuators on their aircraft.
The agency stated, “If the runway guide actuators fail during low altitude or landing, the crew may not know how to respond,” calling such failure “unacceptable.”
Boeing declined to comment on Monday, but mentioned last week that it had notified affected 737 aircraft operators in August.