Asian and European carriers have now confirmed that they will be examining their 737-300 aircraft as a precaution after cracks expanded into a hole on a Southwest Airlines plane last week.
Boeing has recommended airlines inspect the areas where the skin covers joints on the older 737 models. Scandinavian Airlines is inspecting four 737-500s, which while not the same model, were made during the same period as the Southwest plane. Lufthansa is inspecting three 737-300s.
In Asia, Asiana Airlines and subsidiary Air Busan have been ordered by the South Korean government to inspect their 737 fleets. Similarly Japan has ordered all domestic airlines to inspect early model 737s and that those planes which had exceeded 35,000 flights must be inspected within five days.
The incident has caused analysts to predict that this action could lead to more extensive inspections of a wider variety of aging aircraft.