Boeing 737s need a new check for missing nuts on a critical tail part

The US aviation regulator wants airlines to check all Boeing 737-600, -700, -800, and -900 series planes for missing or loose nuts on a part that controls the horizontal tail. This means airlines will need to review maintenance records and perform inspections on a large number of planes.

A small part on the tail of a Boeing 737 can come loose or be missing, which could cause the plane to lose control. This proposed rule forces airlines to find out if their planes have this problem and fix it. It means a specific, measurable safety risk is now being addressed across a widely used aircraft fleet.