Hoping to head off explosions like one that is suspected of downing TWA Flight 800 last year, the aviation industry said Thursday that the world’s airlines have agreed to a massive program to inspect the fuel tanks in one-third of the 6,000-plane passenger fleet.
Although aimed at checking the fuel systems of Boeing 747 planes, the type that exploded off Long Island, the inspections will cover every airplane due for a major overhaul during the next 2 1/2 years, according to Joe Hopkins, a spokesman for Elk Grove Township-based United Airlines, one of 68 airlines that have agreed to include the inspection during their overhauls.
The inspections were called for earlier this year by the National Transportation Safety Board.
It has concluded that Flight 800, on which 230 people died, was brought down by an explosion in the center fuel tank, but has been unable to determine its cause.
Announcement of the inspection program was made Thursday in Washington by the Air Transport Association.
“These aircraft are safe to fly and we expect that the new data will confirm the safety of both the fuel systems and the design philosophy which created them,” said Carol Hallett, the association’s president.
More than 2,000 Airbus, Boeing, McDonnell Douglas, Fokker and Lockheed jets will have their fuel systems inspected at a cost of millions.
