U.S. airline safety board raises alarm over foreign carriers that may have Boeing 737 rudder issue

According to the head of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), at least 40 foreign airlines may be flying Boeing 737 planes that have rudder control systems that could potentially jam.

Last week, the NTSB issued emergency safety advisories for some Boeing 737 Max and 737NG aircraft. In February, an investigation was launched into an incident in which the rudder pedals of a United Airlines Boeing 737-8 became "stuck" during landing at Newark Liberty International Airport. The plane landed safely.

In a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homandy blamed the US regulator for "downplaying the urgency of this matter" and not taking it seriously until the NTSB issued its safety recommendations last week. did

"The reason for immediate action is even greater because after we began our investigation, the FAA became aware of two similar incidents that occurred in 2019 with foreign operators," Homandi wrote.

Humandy's letter emphasized that 271 potentially defective actuators may be installed on aircraft in service by 40 other foreign airlines, and 16 may be installed on U.S.-registered aircraft. Another 75 may be used in aftermarket installations.

"It's very unusual for the US NTSB to issue a letter like this," said Duncan Day, former CEO of Air Canada.

BNN-Bloomberg, the trade news outlet of Bell Media, reported the NTSB chief's comments on Monday. CTV News reached out to Boeing for comment, to which the company responded, "We have nothing further to add."

CTV News aviation expert Philip Durdy said the piece was intended for the landing gear operator, which he said is an optional piece of equipment on the plane.

CTV News reached out to Air Canada, WestJet, Sunwing and Flyer Airlines to ask if their planes use the same rudder control system.

A spokeswoman for WestJet confirmed that the component identified by the NTSB was not on any WestJet aircraft.

Flyer Airlines said safety is not only a priority but an absolute and ongoing focus, though the company did not directly respond to CTV's question.

"We are following every safety advisory and airworthiness directive issued by Boeing, the FAA, the NTSB, Transport Canada and other relevant authorities," Flyer Airlines said in a statement. "We are also subject to regular external inspections and are continuously monitored by Transport Canada, whose close monitoring confirms our full compliance with all regulations."

Air Canada and Sunwing have not yet responded.

The US Federal Aviation Administration said it has formed its own corrective action review panel, is issuing notices to international airlines and is scheduled to conduct additional simulator tests in October.

"The FAA and Boeing are investigating. We will await the results of this investigation and will take whatever action is necessary to keep Canadians safe," said Laurent de Casaneuve of the Transport Minister's office.

Boeing officials had no further comment when contacted by CTV News on Tuesday, but previously told Reuters that Boeing notified affected operators in August of a "potential condition with the landing gear actuator."

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