Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
Upon landing in ZZZZ; completing leg one of the foreign country trip; I was advised that the aircraft required an immediate Service Check because it was not compliant.  Apparently the B767-300 had been sitting in ZZZ1 for a few days; and while a daily check had been done; the Service Check had expired. Maintenance Control told me that they were very sorry they missed it but it had to be done in ZZZZ immediately so we would be legal. I felt responsible that I had missed it but the First Officer produced the FOM which says the following in the Maintenance Procedures chapter; 'AIRWORTHINESS RELEASE BLOCK-The airworthiness release block is a Maintenance function. After servicing; checks and inspection intervals are a Maintenance responsibility.'  Also reviewed was the following from the Flight Crew Chapter; under Preflight: Aircraft airworthiness will be determined by the Captain prior to the initiation of the Before Start Checklist. In making this determination; the captain will ensure that all discrepancies entered in the aircraft Log have been cleared or deferred in accordance with the approved MEL/CDL.'It appears that I am free of responsibility of any maintenance inspections; but I realize that even so; I'm still the Captain; and if the aircraft wasn't compliant I bear responsibility. The Mechanic in ZZZZ did the required inspection and we proceeded on our way and completed the trips a bit late. Upon returning to ZZZ1; a Mechanic remarked that Maintenance [at our company's headquarters] didn't tell them there was an inspection due; which is why it hadn't been completed.
A Captain was informed by Maintenance Control that the B767-300 aircraft he had just landed in a foreign country required an immediate Service Check because the aircraft was not compliant prior to his departure. The First Officer showed Captain the FOM Chapter that stated the Airworthiness Release block sign-off was a Maintenance function responsibility for servicing; checks; and inspection intervals.