Most Americans who have ever looked nervously at a boarding pass and seen the word “Boeing” have the same aircraft in mind. They think of the 737 MAX, the jet grounded worldwide after two crashes and rarely out of the headlines since.
This time the problem is with a different plane. It is the one millions of travelers board every week without a second thought.
The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered inspections on 1,987 US-registered Boeing 737 Next Generation jets after airlines reported the aircraft’s noses moving up and down during flight. The order takes effect on November 23, 2026, the Monday of Thanksgiving week, which is one of the busiest flying periods of the year.
What Airlines Have Been Reporting
The FAA describes the incidents as “pitch oscillation events.” Put simply, the nose of the plane has been bobbing up and down in a way it should not.
The cause has been traced to the horizontal stabilizer, the small wing on the tail that keeps the aircraft level. On the 737, the whole stabilizer moves to trim the plane. It pivots on a pair of hinges and is driven by a long screw mechanism called a jackscrew.
As those parts wear, a small amount of looseness builds up in the joints. Engineers call it “freeplay.” A little is normal. Too much is not.
The FAA’s own wording is blunt. Left unaddressed, the condition “could lead to a flutter event, which can result in loss of control of the airplane.” Flutter happens when the airflow over a surface and the surface’s own movement start to feed off each other, and it is one of the most feared phenomena in aircraft design.
The FAA has not said how many incidents have occurred, when they happened, or which airlines reported them.
Which Planes Are Affected
The order covers the 737-600, 737-700, 737-700C, 737-800, 737-900 and 737-900ER. These are the workhorses of American domestic flying, and they are used on everything from short business hops to holiday trips to Florida.
Southwest has the most exposure. It is the world’s largest 737 operator and lists 480 Next Generation jets in its fleet.
United has more than 300 affected aircraft.
American, Delta and Alaska also fly versions of the 737NG, so a large share of domestic passengers could find themselves on one of these planes this season.
The 737 MAX is not part of this order.
The Airlines Asked for More Time and Were Turned Down
This was not a sudden decision. The FAA first proposed the inspections in January and finalized them in October with almost no changes.
Several carriers pushed back during that process. United asked for longer gaps between repeat inspections on planes that had already had new hinge bearings fitted. Alaska Airlines wanted to skip the interim checks and go straight to repairing worn parts. A Canadian operator asked for three years to complete the first round instead of one.
The FAA rejected all three requests. It said the repeat schedule exists to make sure dangerous looseness does not develop again, even in brand new parts.
The checks themselves are not expensive. The FAA estimates around six hours of labor per plane, or about $510 per aircraft. What nobody can yet say is how many jets will turn out to need replacement parts, how much those will cost, or how long those planes might be out of service.
Before You Panic: What This Order Does and Doesn’t Mean
These jets are not grounded. The FAA has not said the affected aircraft are unsafe to fly, and they will keep carrying passengers while the inspections take place.
Airlines also have 12 months to complete the first round of checks. The order kicks in on November 23, but that does not mean every 737 will be pulled into a hangar during Thanksgiving week. Inspections will be spread out across normal maintenance schedules.
The larger worry for holiday travelers is disruption, not danger. If inspections find worn parts, those aircraft need repair before they fly again. Airlines are already flying with fewer spare planes after cutting schedules because of high fuel costs, so even a handful of aircraft taken out of service unexpectedly can lead to delays, swaps to a different plane, and cancellations.
How to Protect Your Trip
A few simple steps will help travelers who are flying over the holidays or in the months ahead:
- Check your aircraft type. Most airline apps and booking confirmations show the exact model. Look for 737-700, -800 or -900. If it says MAX, this order does not apply.
- Book the first flight of the day. Aircraft swaps and maintenance problems tend to cascade through the day, so morning departures give you the most rebooking options if something goes wrong.
- Avoid tight connections. Leave yourself at least two hours on domestic connections during peak season.
- Know your refund rights. Under Department of Transportation rules, if your airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you choose not to travel, you are entitled to a cash refund rather than a voucher.
- Check travel insurance. Make sure your policy covers delays and missed connections caused by mechanical problems, not only weather.
The Bottom Line
The 737 Next Generation has a long and solid safety record, and this directive is the system working as it should: a problem was spotted, studied, and turned into a mandatory fix.
Even so, a mid-flight problem that the regulator says could end in loss of control, on nearly 2,000 of the most common jets in American skies, is something every traveler should know about. That is especially true heading into a holiday season when fares are at a ten-year high and airlines have little slack.
Source: Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directive 2026-20-14, as reported by Aviation A2Z and Aerospace Global News
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.