FAA mandates Boeing 737 engine part replacements after fatal incidents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed three directives that would require engine housing inspections and component replacements on Boeing 737NG airplanes following a fatal fan blade incident on a Southwest Airlines flight in 2018. The directives would cover nearly 8,000 airplanes worldwide and mandate inspections and replacements of certain components on the engine cowling by July 2028. Boeing has expressed support for the proposal and stated that airlines can continue to operate the fleet safely with interim actions until permanent modifications are made. The accident in 2018 resulted in the first fatality on a U.S. passenger airline since 2009, and the National Transportation Safety Board had called for a redesign of the fan cowl structure.