WASHINGTON, April 21 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a directive that requires airlines to inspect fan blades on certain CFM56-7B engines within 20 days.
The move came days after one of those engines on a Southwest Airlines jet exploded in midair, leading to the death of a female passenger and injuries of seven others.
The inspection requirement applies to CFM56-7B, one of the world's most popular engines by engine maker CFM.
"Engines with more than 30,000 total cycles from new must complete inspections within 20 days," the FAA said in a statement Friday.
It is estimated that the directive will affect 352 engines in the United States and 681 engines worldwide.
The European Aviation Safety Agency is reportedly adopting similar requirements.
