The FAA directed airlines flying Boeing planes earlier this week to replace parts in 88 of the company's 787 Dreamliners that had already been delivered to carriers throughout summer.
The part that needs to be replaced was a plug used in the electrical equipment bay, where one of two lithium batteries is located.
The FAA received reports that in some 787s the plug was missing prior to delivery.
Boeing released a statement yesterday announcing that an, “engineering review determined that this improper configuration does not present an immediate safety concern for several reasons, including redundancies designed into the system."
Four months ago, prior to the mandatory directive, Boeing recommended the airlines fix the plug problem and then changed the design. This FAA directive instructs airlines to make the recommended changes.
The FAA released another directive Friday to replace fuse pins on some 747s. Fuse pins normally connect the engine to the wing of a plane. Boeing had issues with fuse pins in the early 1990s when fuse pin failure on 747s resulted in a few serious crashes.
Airlines have until Oct. 31 to replace the pins in five aircraft if they haven't fixed them already. The company would not say Friday whether the five planes had been fixed. The FAA estimates the fix will cost almost $200,000.
Editor's Note: This story was updated clarify how the FAA's directives work.