Taiwan's China Airlines completes Boeing 737 check, safe to fly

Friday 08/09/2017 - Source: Earth Times

Taiwan's major carrier China Airlines said Saturday all its Boeing 737-800 jetliners are safe for flight operations after thorough checks in line with the emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "CAL has completed the inspection in a timely fashion to ensure that the planes are safe for flight operations," said the airlines in a press release.

FAA had issued its second EAD on August 28, asking airlines all over the world to check their Boeing 737 series within 10 days following reports of loose wing slats.

It issued the first EAD after a CAL Boeing 737-800 jet burst into a ball of fire and exploded into three sections after landing at Naha Airport in Japan's Okinawa in early August. All 165 people, including the eight-member crew, abroad the plane miraculously escaped.

An initial investigation by aviation experts from Japan, Taiwan and Boeing showed the slat of the right wing had come off and pierced the fuel tank resulting in the fire and explosion.

CAL said it has completed all the necessary inspections required by the FAA, and Taiwan's flight regulator the Civil Aeronautics Administration has sent inspectors to audit the inspection work.

CAL and its affiliate Mandarin Airlines have a total of 13 Boeing 737-800s.