NASHVILLE, Tenn., August 11, 2026 — The federal government should have acted sooner to investigate structural defects in Boeing 737 MAX aircraft — and should think twice before allowing Boeing to resume responsibility for inspecting its own newly manufactured planes, says aviation attorney Keith Williams.

Beginning September 10, more than 400 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft will be subject to inspections after reports of cracks in structural components known as forward bear straps, according to a final rule issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Forward bear straps are metal structural components that reinforce areas around doorways and emergency exits.

The inspections will apply to Boeing 737-8, 737-9 and 737-8200 aircraft.

Williams said the FAA's decision to require inspections raises a larger question about whether the agency has been sufficiently proactive in identifying potential safety problems with the 737 MAX.

“The FAA is now ordering inspections of more than 400 aircraft because cracks have been found in a critical structural component,” said Williams of the Keith Williams Law Group. “The obvious question is: Why did it take this long to identify and address the problem?”

The FAA also has restored Boeing's authority to conduct certain inspections and approve newly manufactured 737 MAX aircraft. The agency had previously revoked that authority following two fatal 737 MAX crashes in 2018 and 2019 involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. The crashes killed a combined 346 people.
Williams questioned whether returning greater inspection authority to Boeing is appropriate, given the MAX's troubled safety history.

“After two catastrophic crashes involving the 737 MAX and the loss of 346 lives, the public has every reason to expect rigorous independent oversight,” Williams said. “Giving the manufacturer greater responsibility for signing off on its own aircraft raises legitimate questions about whether the fox is being put back in charge of the henhouse.”
The latest inspection order is particularly concerning because it involves older 737 MAX aircraft already in service, Williams said.
“Aviation safety cannot be reactive,” Williams said. “When a potential structural defect is identified, regulators should move quickly to determine how widespread the problem is and whether passengers and crews are being exposed to unnecessary risk. Waiting until a defect becomes a serious safety event is not an acceptable strategy.”
Williams said the FAA's latest action should prompt regulators to examine whether additional inspections of the 737 MAX fleet are warranted and whether manufacturers should have primary responsibility for certifying the safety of their own aircraft.

“We cannot wait for another tragedy before asking whether the warning signs were there,” Williams said. “The goal of aviation regulation should be to identify and eliminate risks before an aircraft leaves the gate — not after lives have been put in jeopardy.”

In addition to his practice, Williams is the Past Chair of the American Association for Justice’s Aviation Litigation Section, and he is a member of the Aviation and Space Law Committee of the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. Mr. Williams is also a member and past president of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association.

For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.


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About Keith Williams Law Group
With two convenient locations, one in downtown Nashville and the other on the historic town square in Lebanon, Keith Williams Law Group can help its clients achieve the maximum possible compensation for their injuries. Its attorneys represent those who have been injured as a result of car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, aviation accidents, highway work zone accidents, defective products, and trucker broker negligence. For more information, call (615) 444-2900 or visit www.keithwilliamslawgroup.com.