Still Unknown When Washer Turned Up Missing

The explosion of a China Airlines Boeing 737-800 while it was taxiing at Okinawa's Naha Airport in Japan on August 20 prompted an emergency check of similar aircraft in several countries, including the US, as ANN reported. The explosion has been attributed to a bolt from the wing slat that came loose and pierced the fuel tank.

According to Japan's Transport Ministry official Atsushi Shimamura, inspectors found a component missing from an Air Nippon 737-700 Friday. A washer from a wing slat was missing that could have prompted a bolt to loosen, according to the Associated Press.

Authorities with the China Airlines incident have not yet determined if that bolt came loose due to the absence of the washer.

Boeing's Hong Kong spokesperson Mark Hooper declined to comment on that particular case and reiterated a previous Boeing statement which stated the company was investigating the explosion by examining the 737's design and production.

Shimamura said inspectors haven't tracked down why the washer was missing, but a mistake in production was a possibility. That particular 737 has been in service since January of this year, according to the AP.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.asia.com