Australia's Qantas finds cracks in three of its 737NG planes

SYDNEY - Australian carrier Qantas found hairline cracks in three of its Boeing 737NG planes as airlines worldwide inspect their fleets of the troubled aircraft, the company said on Friday (Nov 1).

"Of the 33 of Qantas' 737 aircraft that required inspection, three were found to have a hairline crack in the pickle fork structure," the airline said in a statement, referring to a part which helps bind the wing to the fuselage.

"These aircraft have been removed from service for repair," it said.

Boeing announced on Thursday that dozens of its popular 737NG planes had been taken out of service after cracks in them were detected.

US regulators earlier this month ordered inspections of older NG aircraft, directing planes with more flying hours to be checked within seven days.

A Boeing spokesman on Thursday told AFP in Sydney that fewer than 5 per cent of 1,000 planes were found to have cracks and were grounded for repair.

South Korea's Korean Air and US carrier Southwest Airlines have also taken some of their 737NGs out of service after cracks were discovered in the pickle forks, while several other leading airlines said inspections had not turned up cracks on their aircraft.

The new difficulties compound the troubles facing the US manufacturer, which has faced tumbling profits, federal scrutiny and calls for its chief executive officer to resign after deadly crashes involving the 737 Max, the successor aircraft for the 737NG.

Boeing and Qantas stressed travellers should not be concerned by the issues with the 737NGs.

"We would never fly an aircraft that wasn't safe," said Andrew David, the CEO of Qantas Domestic.

"Even where these hairline cracks are present they're not an immediate risk, which is clear from the fact the checks were not required for at least seven months."