Qantas rejects calls to ground 737NG jets

SYDNEY - Australian airline Qantas on Thursday rejected calls to ground its Boeing 737s after claims that a second aircraft in its fleet was found with a crack in its wing structure.

The airline has been inspecting its aircraft following calls this month from the United States' Federal Aviation Administration for all airlines to check Boeing 737 NG planes that had completed more than 30,000 takeoff and landing cycles for cracking in a part that helps keep wings attached to the fuselage.

Qantas on Wednesday said it had found cracking in one 737 that had completed just less than 27,000 cycles, and that the plane had been removed from service and sent for repairs.