The transport ministry issued an airworthiness directive Wednesday requiring domestic airlines to inspect the roofs of early model Boeing 737s following a midair fuselage rupture on a 737-300 in the U.S.
The directive, which covers 16 aircraft in the Japan Airlines group, 15 in the All Nippon Airways group, seven operated by Hokkaido International Airlines, known as Air Do, and eight by Skynet Asia Airways, could cause flight cancellations should any problem be uncovered.
The move by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry followed a similar directive issued by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.
The directive, which concerns 737-300, 400 and 500 models, calls for inspections within five days.