FAA orders checks on all Boeing 737 planes for possible air pressure switch failures

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a directive to airlines to inspect cabin air pressure switches in all Boeing 737s for possible failures — which could lead to pilots not being warned about a dangerous loss of oxygen.

The FAA’s directive — which covers 2,502 US-registered jets among 9,315 worldwide — was prompted after an operator reported in September that both switches failed tests on three aircraft, according to Reuters. Airlines were instructed Thursday to conduct repetitive tests of the switches and replace them if necessary.