Korean airlines warned of engine shutdowns during flights in Boeing 737s

South Korea's transport ministry instructed local airlines to inspect their Boeing 737 jets following reports of engine shutdowns during flights.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that Boeing 737 airplanes parked for at least seven straight days or flew fewer than 11 times since being returned to service are subject to the inspection.

There are nine South Korean airlines operating a total of Boeing 737 jets.

The directive is in line with the four reports received by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that certain engine valves were stuck open.

Boeing said that with airplanes being stored or used infrequently due to lower demand during the pandemic, the valve could be more susceptible to corrosion.

According to the FAA, corrosion of the valves on both engines could cause a complete loss of power without the ability to restart the engines, forcing an emergency landing.

A ministry official said that it had ordered operators to check essential engine parts and replace them if they spot problems before resuming service.