Inspections Detect Flaws on 16 More 737s

Emergency inspections on Boeing 737s have uncovered loose or missing fasteners and bolts on the tail sections of 16 more aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The FAA ordered airlines to inspect the tails of 211 jetliners last week after it was discovered that more than two dozen fasteners were missing from the horizontal stabilizer of a SilkAir 737-300 that crashed last month in Indonesia. An FAA spokesman said the latest flaws were detected on aircraft operated by foreign airlines, which were not identified. “These are not safety of flight problems,” he said. The FAA said more analysis is needed to determine whether the missing fasteners were left off the jetliners during manufacturing or had been worked loose during flight. Seattle-based Boeing Co. did not immediately comment. Earlier this week, the FAA said inspections of 737s operated by U.S. carriers turned up loose or missing fasteners on the tail sections of three aircraft. Boeing shares rose $1.19 to close at $46.25 on the New York Stock Exchange.