According to Japanese press, this incident involving JAS MD-81 and MD-87 engines has nothing to do with the main gear collapse incident JAS MD-81 experienced on January 1. As the previous post indicates JAS has experience two engine incidents this month involving MD-81 and MD-87. According to Japanese press JAS operates both MD-81 and MD-87 using Pratt & Whitney JT8D-217A/C engine. JAS has decided to check all of its MD-81 and MD-87 engines after these two incidents. Currently JAS operates 18 MD-81 and 8 MD-87. The engine incident involved compressor of the engine, specifically the stator fin, the stationary blade in the compressor. Both incident involved 8th stator blades from the front of the compressor.
As of evening of January 20, JAS has completed the examination of 24 MD-81/MD-87 aircraft they have. Out of that JAS has found the crack in the stator blade in 17 aircrafts, 19 engines. The mechanics told that cracks found on the stator blade was large enough that they could identify by naked eye. They did not have to use magnifying scope or ultrasound. JAS has only two spare JT8D-217A/C engines ready for immediate installment. JAS has to get more spare parts from Pratt & Whitney to complete replacement of all of problem engines they found. JAS is scheduled to cancel 62 flights on January 21. JAS is planning to minimize the cancellation by utilizing JAL aircraft.
I would expect European and the US authorities both will issue the immediate inspection of compressor stator blades of JT8D-217A/C engines, which is commonly installed in MD-80 aircrafts series. But I have not heard any cancellation of MD-80 flights in the US, have you? It is hard to believe that this engine problem is unique to JAS MD-80s.