Qantas grounds 3 Boeing 737 NG jets over hairline cracks

Australian airline Qantas Airways said on Friday it grounded three of its Boeing 737s over hairline cracks found in wing structures but expected to have them flying again this year.

The airline has been inspecting its aircraft following calls this month from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration for all airlines to check Boeing 737 NG (Next Generation)planes that had completed more than 30,000 takeoff and landing cycles for cracking in a part that helps keep wings attached to the fuselage.

As many as 50 occurrences have been reported globally. A Boeing spokesperson on Thursday told Agence France-Presse in Sydney that less than five per cent of 1,000 planes had cracks detected and were grounded for repair. The spokesperson did not give an exact figure, though five percent equates to 50 planes of 1,000 inspected.

Air Canada does not have Boeing NG planes, while the other Canadian carriers have not reported any instances since following the the recommendation to perform inspections.

Qantas Domestic and Freight Chief Executive Andrew David said the airline had examinedall 33 jets of itsfleet of 75 that had completed more than 22,600 cycles in two and a half years of flying.

The hairline crack was found in one of eight bolts in the so-called pickle fork assembly in each of the three planes.

Even when a crack is present, it does not immediately compromise the safety of the aircraft.- Chris Snook, Qantas head of engineering

"Minimal risk, we are being very prudent, we've done the checks in seven days," David told reporters. "Those three aircraft are on the ground. We will get them back flying by the end of the year."

David criticized the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association, the body representing the workers who carry out the checks, for calling on Thursday for all 75 of Qantas's 737s to be grounded while they were inspected.

"We're very, very disappointed. They've completely misrepresented the facts," David said. "If they were genuine about their safety concerns, why not work with the regulators? Why not work with the industry?"

Qantas's head of engineering Chris Snook also said the call to ground the fleet was "completely irresponsible," saying the airline would never operate a plane unless it was "completely safe to do so."

"Even when a crack is present, it does not immediately compromise the safety of the aircraft," Snook added.

Earlier this month, Brazilian carrier Gol said it had grounded 11 Boeing 737 NG planes, while U.S.-based Southwest Airlines grounded two.

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The NG is a version of the popular 737 that has been produced since the 1990s. Boeing is replacing it with the 737 Max, but those planes have been grounded worldwide since March after two crashes that killed 346 people.

Qantas, which boasts a remarkable reputation as the world's safest airline since it hasn't suffered a fatal crash since the advent of jet planes, operates 75 Boeing 737 aircraft in total.

Australian regulator agrees with Qantas

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the cracking issue was a serious problem that needed a serious response.

But spokesperson Peter Gibson said there was "no evidence" to suggest the whole Qantas fleet should be grounded and the airline had responded appropriately.

"This is a problem that's been identified, a solution's been found, and we're working through that process," he added.

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Purvinas said the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association wants all 75 Qantas aircraft checked "because it's unknown when these cracks are starting to develop."

He added that it only took one hour per aircraft to carry out the check.

Rival airline Virgin Australia said it has already inspected its 737 fleet and no cracks were found.