[Photo] S. Korea grounds 13 Boeing 737 planes after cracks discovered

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has discovered cracks in 13 Boeing 737 planes: five from Korean Air, three from Jin Air, three from Jeju Air, and two from Eastar Jet. The cracks were discovered in the structure known as the pickle fork, which connects the wing to the fuselage. There are 150 Boeing 737s in operation in South Korean airlines, and 100 of them have been inspected. Although repair work and replacements are underway, it takes around 2 weeks for every plane, meaning all 13 planes will not be operable until early next year. The US Federal Aviation Administration requested the inspections early last month, after which Boeing dispatched a team of engineers to South Korea. The South Korean government is currently reviewing plans for a joint inspection into the causes of the cracks with the US. (Kim Tae-gyu, staff photographer)