Aviation News – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an emergency airworthiness directive requiring immediate inspections of 156 Boeing 757 aircraft registered in the United States. This urgent mandate follows the discovery of structural cracks in wing panels, posing a potential safety risk to the aging narrow-body fleet.
The directive specifically targets aircraft equipped with scimitar blended winglets, a popular aerodynamic modification designed to improve fuel efficiency. Maintenance crews recently identified the cracking during routine checks, prompting the FAA to bypass the standard notice-and-comment period to ensure passenger safety. All affected operators must complete these detailed inspections within a strict five-day window.
The inspections focus on the wing skin panels where the winglet attaches to the main structure. While these modifications provide significant fuel savings by reducing drag, they also alter the load distribution across the wing. Technicians will utilize non-destructive testing methods to detect any hidden fatigue or stress fractures that could compromise the structural integrity of the airframe during flight.
