Boeing 747-400 (VH-OJA)

Sometimes it can take many years after a plane has crashed to implement new safety features recommended by the investigating safety boards findings.

The red strip near the pylon wing join was implemented as a visual indicator that the fuse pin holding the pylon and engine in place has not been structurally compromised. If the two red strips are out of alignment it would indicate the fuse pin has developed a crack through fatigue or other such failure.

This visual measure was implemented after a B742F, EL-AL Flight 1862, crashed in Amsterdam after the No 3, in-board mid-spar fuse pin, failed through fatigue, causing the engine to separate, taking out the adjacent engine in the process, rendering the aircraft virtually uncontrollable.