This doesnīt sound good at all. I still believe those 3 747īs from Air India, over the Atlantic, the TWA off the U.S. Atlantic coast and the 747 from Lockerbie where also hull damages and not a fuel pump, nor a bomb.
Just imagine BOEING would have said:
Yes our planes fall apart. No one would have a bought a Boeing jet from this day on. I still believe in a cover up for economic reason. But this was the old 100series.
The hull design of the 747 is just not ideal. it should be a tube and round and not assymetrical, this oval design brings a lot of problems.
But I also take seat in 747īs and I am not afraid
to "surely not" : By the way, read the thread about the A380 wing, it didnīt break, but had a crack at 150% and this at a test assembly. That is something a little different then at a plane, ready for sale !