The issue involves tiny gaps that could be present in the plane's dome-shaped forward-pressure bulkhead, which is located at the nose of the fuselage and serves as a barrier for the pressurized interior cabin.

The FAA plans to mandate Boeing -recommended inspections of forward pressure bulkheads (FPB) on some 980 787s to address production quality problems discovered several years ago.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a proposed directive Thursday to require inspections of Boeing 787s for "excessive gaps" in the front of the jet.

The US Federal Aviation Administration proposed a directive to require inspections of a key structural component at the nose of Boeing Co.’s 787 Dreamliner.