Surprising loose bolt startles Boeing; urges 737 MAX inspection

Airplane manufacturer Boeing has urged airlines worldwide to inspect their Boeing 737 MAX airplanes for potential loose bolts, sending ripples across the aviation industry and causing the company’s shares to trade 1% down by midday.

This directive was issued after an international airline discovered a loose bolt with a missing nut during routine maintenance on a mechanism in the rudder-control linkage.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is closely monitoring these targeted inspections, and Boeing’s recommendation has raised questions about the implications for the safety and…