Calls for Qantas to ground Boeing 737 fleet after cracks found

Engineers have called for the move until checks for cracks, discovered last night, are completed.

A group of Qantas engineers has called for the airline’s Boeing 737 fleet to be grounded until checks for cracks in a component attaching the wing to the fuselage are completed.

The Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers’ Association has claimed a second aircraft was found to have a cracked “pickle fork” last night, as Qantas ramped up inspections.

Last night the airline said one 737 Next Generation aircraft with just under 27,000 flights was found to have a crack, and it would inspect 33 others by the end of the week.

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The inspections were recommended by the Federal Aviation Administration acting on advice from Boeing, after cracks were found in an older 737 NG undergoing maintenance in China at the start of this month.

Those aircraft with more than 30,000 cycles or flights were advised to be checked immediately, and aircraft with over 22,600 flights recommended to be inspected within the next 1000 flights.

A Qantas spokesman said they would never operate an aircraft unless it was completely safe to do so, and dismissed the ALAEA comments as “completely irresponsible”.

“Even when a crack is present it does not immediately compromise the safety of the aircraft,” the spokesman said.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce. Picture: AAP

“Safety regulators in Australia and the US require the checks on our 737s to be completed over the next seven months. Our checks are well advanced and will be finished tomorrow, months ahead of schedule.”

But ALAEA national secretary Steve Purvinas claimed Qantas was “playing down the safety concerns”.

“These aircraft should be kept safe on the ground until urgent inspections are completed and advice in relation to the ongoing nature of the wing cracks is confirmed by Boeing and the US FAA,” Mr Purvinas said.

“Boeing had previously thought the cracks were only occurring on aircraft with over 35,000 landings. The issue has now been identified on two Qantas aircraft with as few as 27,000 landings and Qantas are yet to inspect the majority of its 737 fleet.”

He said inspections of all 75 737s in the Qantas fleet could occur within the next few days.

“They shouldn’t continue flying until they can establish that each aircraft is safe,” said Mr Purvinas.

The Qantas spokesman refused to confirm if cracks had been found on a second aircraft, but said any aircraft with issues would be removed from service until repairs were made.

“We’ll provide a further update once the checks are complete,” he said.

Virgin Australia has inspected 19 of its 737s and found no cracks, a spokeswoman said.