Passengers aboard an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 were evacuated at Denver International Airport on Saturday after the aircraft aborted its takeoff following the fire, which resulted in smoke due to a landing gear failure. Flight 3023, bound for Miami, had 173 passengers and six crew members on board when the mechanical issue occurred.&nbsp;The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the aircraft experienced a suspected landing gear failure amid takeoff, prompting the takeoff to be cancelled. All passengers on the flight were evacuated quickly on the runway using inflatable emergency slides. Following the incident, the FAA has launched an investigation into it, according to a report by India Today.&nbsp;A live air traffic control recording shared by 9News captured the intense moments as a controller alerted the cockpit, "Flight 2023, you got a lot of smoke. There were some flames. Looks like the smoke is dying down a bit." Later the controller added, "You are actually on fire."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">And Boeing Continues to face issues. This time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmericanAirlines?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmericanAirlines</a> at Denver airport when Boeing 737 Max stopped take off due to fire in tire and passengers were evaluated in emergency situation Thankyou God all are safe🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Boeing?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Boeing</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/planecrash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#planecrash</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViralVideo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViralVideo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KargilVijayDivas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KargilVijayDivas</a> <a href="https://t.co/n4PMlJcu2K">pic.twitter.com/n4PMlJcu2K</a>&mdash; देशहित सर्वोपरि (@Mindblower81) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mindblower81/status/1949306706514911681?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>Evacuation from American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8</h3>A video of the incident surfaced on social media showing passengers sliding down from emergency slides after thick smoke poured from the left rear side of the jet. However, the blaze had been extinguished at 5.10 pm after the Denver Fire Department responded swiftly to the scene.&nbsp;Meanwhile, in a statement, American Airlines confirmed that the aircraft experienced a “mechanical issue on take-off roll,” including a tire. "All customers and crew deplaned safely, and the aircraft was taken out of service to be inspected by our maintenance team. We thank our team members for their professionalism and apologise to our customers for their experience," the airline said.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/american-airlines-cancel-hundreds-of-flights-due-to-these-reasons-check-details-inside-1753204496663">American Airlines cancel hundreds of flights due to THESE reasons - Check details inside</a>&nbsp;The airline also added that passengers will continue their journey to Miami on another aircraft later in the day.&nbsp;The officials from the airports and the airline confirmed that emergency medical personnel evaluated five people from the scene, and a person with a minor injury was transported to a local hospital. And the Boeing aircraft is currently under inspection following the incident.&nbsp;

After the American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 caught fire, all passengers on the flight were evacuated quickly on the runway using inflatable emergency slides. Soon after the incident, the FAA launched an investigation into it.

Passengers aboard an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 were evacuated at Denver International Airport on Saturday after the aircraft aborted its takeoff following the fire, which resulted in smoke due to a landing gear failure. Flight 3023, bound for Miami, had 173 passengers and six crew members on board when the mechanical issue occurred. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) stated that the aircraft experienced a suspected landing gear failure amid takeoff, prompting the takeoff to be cancelled. All passengers on the flight were evacuated quickly on the runway using inflatable emergency slides. Following the incident, the FAA has launched an investigation into it, according to a report by India Today. A live air traffic control recording shared by 9News captured the intense moments as a controller alerted the cockpit, "Flight 2023, you got a lot of smoke. There were some flames. Looks like the smoke is dying down a bit." Later the controller added, "You are actually on fire."

After the American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 caught fire, all passengers on the flight were evacuated quickly on the runway using inflatable emergency slides. Soon after the incident, the FAA launched an investigation into it.

WATCH: Passengers evacuated from American Airlines jet as Boeing aircraft catches fire at Denver airport

A loss of cabin pressure on a Korean Air aircraft from Seoul to Taichung necessitated the plane to take an emergency U-turn. Passengers and staff members panicked as the aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying flight KE189, dropped more than 25,000 feet.

The flight, scheduled to arrive at Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan took&nbsp;off on June 22, 2024, at around 16:45 local time from Seoul's Incheon International Airport (ICN). After travelling for around 50 minutes, the aircraft started to drop quickly, which unnerved the passengers.

The plane descended around 26,900 feet from its cruise altitude in 15 minutes. Oxygen masks automatically deployed as the cabin pressure dropped.

An Instagram user aboard the airplane recorded the aftermath of the frightening descent. She wrote in the caption, “Motions are too complicated…Just want to say it’s good to be alive now…”

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The video shows everyone every passenger wearing oxygen masks in case of emergency.

Severe symptoms including nosebleeds, ear ache&nbsp;and hyperventilation were reported by passengers. “The children were crying, and everyone was scared,” a passenger told The Taipei Times.&nbsp;

Another passenger reported that something was wrong when flight attendants, who are typically busy serving, remained belted in their seats.

The plane successfully landed later at Taichung International Airport after conducting the emergency descent and changing course to return to Taiwan. Emergency services were on standby.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cochin-london-air-india-flight-receives-bomb-threat-suspect-detained-734925">Cochin-London Air India flight receives bomb threat, suspect detained</a>

Seventeen passengers were sent to local medical institutions for examination. According to accounts from local health officials, all were eventually discharged without significant injuries. 
&nbsp; 
Korean Air apologised to passengers and their families following the accident. “We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. We have given the impacted travellers complete support, which includes lodging, food, and travel plans,” the airline said in a statement.

(With inputs from agencies)

A loss of cabin pressure on a Korean Air aircraft from Seoul to Taichung necessitated the plane to take an emergency U-turn. Passengers and staff members panicked as the aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying flight KE189, dropped more than 25,000 feet.

A loss of cabin pressure on a Korean Air aircraft from Seoul to Taichung necessitated the plane to take an emergency U-turn. Passengers and staff members panicked as the aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying flight KE189, dropped more than 25,000 feet. The flight, scheduled to arrive at Taichung International Airport (RMQ) in Taiwan took off on June 22, 2024, at around 16:45 local time from Seoul's Incheon International Airport (ICN). After travelling for around 50 minutes, the aircraft started to drop quickly, which unnerved the passengers. The plane descended around 26,900 feet from its cruise altitude in 15 minutes. Oxygen masks automatically deployed as the cabin pressure dropped. An Instagram user aboard the airplane recorded the aftermath of the frightening descent. She wrote in the caption, “Motions are too complicated…Just want to say it’s good to be alive now…” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chen Yi Ling (@nancy10in) × The video shows everyone every passenger wearing oxygen masks in case of emergency. Severe symptoms including nosebleeds, ear ache and hyperventilation were reported by passengers. “The children were crying, and everyone was scared,” a passenger told The Taipei Times. Another passenger reported that something was wrong when flight attendants, who are typically busy serving, remained belted in their seats. The plane successfully landed later at Taichung International Airport after conducting the emergency descent and changing course to return to Taiwan. Emergency services were on standby. Also read: Cochin-London Air India flight receives bomb threat, suspect detained Seventeen passengers were sent to local medical institutions for examination. According to accounts from local health officials, all were eventually discharged without significant injuries. Korean Air apologised to passengers and their families following the accident. “We are fully cooperating with all relevant authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. We have given the impacted travellers complete support, which includes lodging, food, and travel plans,” the airline said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Korean Air flight drops 25,000 feet mid-air, passengers share harrowing experience

Amid escalating concerns over Boeing's production schedule for its 737 aircraft series following a mid-air incident earlier this year, India's Akasa Air remains optimistic about the timely delivery of its ordered Boeing 737 MAX jets, affirmed the airline's CEO. <o:p></o:p>

Despite the spotlight on Boeing's production following safety scrutiny, Akasa Air stands firm on its commitment to expand its fleet with the timely arrival of Boeing deliveries.<o:p></o:p>

In a strategic move to strengthen its international operations, Akasa Air unveiled plans for an order of 150 Boeing 737s in January, signalling its ambitious growth trajectory in the aviation sector. <o:p></o:p>

The order announcement coincided with heightened scrutiny of Boeing's 737 MAX 9 version post a mid-air cabin panel blowout incident on an Alaska Air flight. <o:p></o:p>

While Akasa's order excludes the MAX 9 variant, internal and external investigations have fuelled concerns over potential delays in the delivery timeline of other 737 jetliner variants. <o:p></o:p>

Vinay Dube, the founder and CEO of Akasa Air, emphasised the airline's close collaboration with Boeing to ensure adherence to delivery schedules. <o:p></o:p>

Dube affirmed that Akasa's delivery timeline aligns with the expectations and agreements established with Boeing. <o:p></o:p>

Akasa Air currently operates a fleet of 24 Boeing aircraft out of the total 226 on order, slated for delivery over an eight-year period. <o:p></o:p>

Dube refrained from providing a detailed breakdown of the year-wise delivery schedule.<o:p></o:p>

Setting its sights on international expansion, Akasa Air is poised to launch its inaugural international flight to Doha from Mumbai on March 28, marking the commencement of its foray into global markets. <o:p></o:p>

Subsequent destinations in the West Asia, including Kuwait, Riyadh, and Jeddah, along with select Southeast Asian countries, are slated to follow. <o:p></o:p>

Despite India's burgeoning aviation market, characterised by surging travel demand, global carriers like Emirates dominate the bulk of international traffic.<o:p></o:p>

Vinay Dube outlined Akasa Air's strategic emphasis on rapid international growth, citing lower operational costs and higher revenue potential compared to domestic operations. <o:p></o:p>

While refraining from divulging specific capacity deployment details for international routes, Dube underscored the airline's aggressive stance towards international expansion, buoyed by the promising revenue outlook in overseas markets.<o:p></o:p>

Akasa Air finds itself amidst a fiercely competitive landscape in the Indian aviation sector, with rivals like IndiGo making substantial investments to capitalise on the country's air travel growth potential. <o:p></o:p>

IndiGo's record order of 500 Airbus narrowbody planes in June 2023 eclipsed previous industry benchmarks, underscoring the airline's confidence in India's aviation prospects. <o:p></o:p>

Despite the promising market conditions, airlines like Go First face bankruptcy proceedings, while others like SpiceJet grapple with financial challenges.<o:p></o:p>

Vinay Dube acknowledged the multifaceted challenges inherent in running an airline in India, emphasising the imperative of maintaining operational excellence amidst evolving market dynamics. <o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

Amid escalating concerns over Boeing's production schedule for its 737 aircraft series following a mid-air incident earlier this year, India's Akasa Air remains optimistic about the timely delivery of its ordered Boeing 737 MAX jets, affirmed the airline's CEO.

Amid escalating concerns over Boeing's production schedule for its 737 aircraft series following a mid-air incident earlier this year, India's Akasa Air remains optimistic about the timely delivery of its ordered Boeing 737 MAX jets, affirmed the airline's CEO. Despite the spotlight on Boeing's production following safety scrutiny, Akasa Air stands firm on its commitment to expand its fleet with the timely arrival of Boeing deliveries. In a strategic move to strengthen its international operations, Akasa Air unveiled plans for an order of 150 Boeing 737s in January, signalling its ambitious growth trajectory in the aviation sector. The order announcement coincided with heightened scrutiny of Boeing's 737 MAX 9 version post a mid-air cabin panel blowout incident on an Alaska Air flight. While Akasa's order excludes the MAX 9 variant, internal and external investigations have fuelled concerns over potential delays in the delivery timeline of other 737 jetliner variants. Vinay Dube, the founder and CEO of Akasa Air, emphasised the airline's close collaboration with Boeing to ensure adherence to delivery schedules. Dube affirmed that Akasa's delivery timeline aligns with the expectations and agreements established with Boeing. Akasa Air currently operates a fleet of 24 Boeing aircraft out of the total 226 on order, slated for delivery over an eight-year period. Dube refrained from providing a detailed breakdown of the year-wise delivery schedule. Setting its sights on international expansion, Akasa Air is poised to launch its inaugural international flight to Doha from Mumbai on March 28, marking the commencement of its foray into global markets. Subsequent destinations in the West Asia, including Kuwait, Riyadh, and Jeddah, along with select Southeast Asian countries, are slated to follow. Despite India's burgeoning aviation market, characterised by surging travel demand, global carriers like Emirates dominate the bulk of international traffic. Vinay Dube outlined Akasa Air's strategic emphasis on rapid international growth, citing lower operational costs and higher revenue potential compared to domestic operations. While refraining from divulging specific capacity deployment details for international routes, Dube underscored the airline's aggressive stance towards international expansion, buoyed by the promising revenue outlook in overseas markets. Akasa Air finds itself amidst a fiercely competitive landscape in the Indian aviation sector, with rivals like IndiGo making substantial investments to capitalise on the country's air travel growth potential. IndiGo's record order of 500 Airbus narrowbody planes in June 2023 eclipsed previous industry benchmarks, underscoring the airline's confidence in India's aviation prospects. Despite the promising market conditions, airlines like Go First face bankruptcy proceedings, while others like SpiceJet grapple with financial challenges. Vinay Dube acknowledged the multifaceted challenges inherent in running an airline in India, emphasising the imperative of maintaining operational excellence amidst evolving market dynamics. (With inputs from Reuters)

India's Akasa Air stays upbeat on Boeing 737 MAX delivery schedule despite production concerns

Spicejet will induct 50 Boeing 737 max planes by 2022-23. Spicejet hopes to phase out its older 737 older Boeing 77 800 ng and replace them with fuel-efficient max planes.

India: Spicejet's global operations to be expanded

An Air Canada Boeing Co 737-8 Max en route between Arizona and Montreal with three crew members on board suffered an engine issue that forced the crew to divert the aircraft to Tucson, Arizona, the Canadian airline company said in an emailed statement on Friday.

Shortly after the take-off, the pilots received an "engine indication" and "decided to shut down one engine," an Air Canada spokesman said.

"The aircraft then diverted to Tucson, where it landed normally and remains." The incident took place on Dec. 22.

The crew received a left engine hydraulic low pressure indication and declared a PAN PAN emergency before diverting the flight, Belgian aviation news website Aviation24.be reported.

"Modern aircraft are designed to operate with one engine and our crews train for such operations", the Air Canada statement added.

In a response to a Reuters request for comment, a Boeing spokeswoman referred to Air Canada for information on the incident and did not provide any additional comment.

Boeing and operators are bracing for heightened scrutiny as the MAX returns from a 20 month safety grounding, but safety experts say such glitches are common and usually go unnoticed.

The `MAX was grounded following two crashes linked in part to flawed cockpit software. The engines were not implicated.

The United States lifted a 20-month-old flight ban on the 737 MAX last month, with the U.S. Federal Aviation

Administration outlining details of the software, system and training upgrades Boeing and airlines must complete before carrying passengers.

An Air Canada Boeing Co 737-8 Max en route between Arizona and Montreal with three crew members on board suffered an engine issue that forced the crew to divert the aircraft to Tucson, Arizona, the Canadian airline company said in an emailed statement on Friday.

An Air Canada Boeing Co 737-8 Max en route between Arizona and Montreal with three crew members on board suffered an engine issue that forced the crew to divert the aircraft to Tucson, Arizona, the Canadian airline company said in an emailed statement on Friday. Shortly after the take-off, the pilots received an "engine indication" and "decided to shut down one engine," an Air Canada spokesman said. "The aircraft then diverted to Tucson, where it landed normally and remains." The incident took place on Dec. 22. The crew received a left engine hydraulic low pressure indication and declared a PAN PAN emergency before diverting the flight, Belgian aviation news website Aviation24.be reported. "Modern aircraft are designed to operate with one engine and our crews train for such operations", the Air Canada statement added. In a response to a Reuters request for comment, a Boeing spokeswoman referred to Air Canada for information on the incident and did not provide any additional comment. Boeing and operators are bracing for heightened scrutiny as the MAX returns from a 20 month safety grounding, but safety experts say such glitches are common and usually go unnoticed. The `MAX was grounded following two crashes linked in part to flawed cockpit software. The engines were not implicated. The United States lifted a 20-month-old flight ban on the 737 MAX last month, with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration outlining details of the software, system and training upgrades Boeing and airlines must complete before carrying passengers.

Air Canada Boeing 737-8 MAX suffers engine issue

Boeing 737 Max certification test in coming week, 737 Max grounded since March, 2019. Watch this report!

Boeing 737 Max certification test in coming week, 737 Max grounded since March, 2019

Boeing revealed on Sunday that it was reviewing a wiring issue which could have led to cause a short circuit of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/airbus-beats-goal-with-863-jet-deliveries-in-2019-ousts-boeing-from-top-spot-271445">737 MAX aircraft</a>.

"Identified this issue as part of that rigorous process, and we are working with the FAA to perform the appropriate analysis. It would be premature to speculate as to whether this analysis will lead to any design changes," Boeing's spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.

According to the New York Times, the beleaguered US aircraft company was looking into whether the wiring was&nbsp;bundled too close to each other.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the agency and company was "analysing certain findings from a recent review of the proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX."

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/boeing-halts-737-max-production-after-20-years-268610/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has been grounded since March last year. The crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia within five months had killed 346 people leading to the worldwide grounding of the aircraft. In September, Boeing had cut production of the 737 MAX from 52 to 42 per month due to the grounding.

The aircraft company has since replaced Muilenburg and appointed David Calhoun, 62, as the CEO to repair the damage to the company. Boeing temporarily halted production of its grounded 737 Max for the first time in more than 20 years although it said it won't be laying off employees during the production freeze.

The production setback has already cost the company over $9 billion so far.

Boeing had said earlier that dozens of 737NG planes, the successor aircraft of 737 MAX were grounded as a result of the MAX crashes. Australian national carrier Qantas had said that it had found cracks in at least three 737NGs.

In July, Boeing had reported second-quarter loss of $2.9 billion as revenues tumbled 35.1 per cent to $15.8 billion amid the grounding of the aircraft.

Boeing revealed on Sunday that it was reviewing a wiring issue which could have led to cause a short circuit of the 737 MAX aircraft. "Identified this issue as part of that rigorous process, and we are working with the FAA to perform the appropriate analysis.

Boeing revealed on Sunday that it was reviewing a wiring issue which could have led to cause a short circuit of the 737 MAX aircraft. "Identified this issue as part of that rigorous process, and we are working with the FAA to perform the appropriate analysis. It would be premature to speculate as to whether this analysis will lead to any design changes," Boeing's spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. According to the New York Times, the beleaguered US aircraft company was looking into whether the wiring was bundled too close to each other. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the agency and company was "analysing certain findings from a recent review of the proposed modifications to the Boeing 737 MAX." Watch Video: The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft has been grounded since March last year. The crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia within five months had killed 346 people leading to the worldwide grounding of the aircraft. In September, Boeing had cut production of the 737 MAX from 52 to 42 per month due to the grounding. The aircraft company has since replaced Muilenburg and appointed David Calhoun, 62, as the CEO to repair the damage to the company. Boeing temporarily halted production of its grounded 737 Max for the first time in more than 20 years although it said it won't be laying off employees during the production freeze. The production setback has already cost the company over $9 billion so far. Boeing had said earlier that dozens of 737NG planes, the successor aircraft of 737 MAX were grounded as a result of the MAX crashes. Australian national carrier Qantas had said that it had found cracks in at least three 737NGs. In July, Boeing had reported second-quarter loss of $2.9 billion as revenues tumbled 35.1 per cent to $15.8 billion amid the grounding of the aircraft.

'Design flaw' in Boeing? 737 MAX aircraft wiring under lens

According to a Dutch firm, the number of people killed due to crashes by commercial planes in 2019 fell by over fifty per cent despite <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/wion-edit-the-fall-of-brand-boeing-268899">Boeing</a> 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia.&nbsp;

Dutch aviation consulting firm To70 said that there were eighty-six accidents which involved large commerical planes in 2019 which resulted in 257 people being killed. It said that there were eight fatal accidents last year. The study found in 2018, 160 accidents occurred with 13 described as being fatal in which 534 people were reportedly killed.&nbsp;

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/airbus-beats-goal-with-863-jet-deliveries-in-2019-ousts-boeing-from-top-spot-271445">Boeing Lion Air </a>737 MAX airliner had crashed in Indonesia in October killing all 189 people on board. Indonesian investigators in a report said the crash occurred due to design flaws in the software.

The Dutch research included crew members, flight attendants, passengers among those killed along with people who were killed on the ground.

In March, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed with &nbsp;157 people on board. Ethiopian Airlines grounded its Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 fleet after the devastating crash which was followed by China and several other countries.

As a result of the crashes, Boeing temporarily halted production of its grounded 737 Max for the first time in more than 20 years.

In October, Boeing CEO Muilenburg stepped down amid the crashes as the company appointed David Calhoun as the new CEO. Calhoun will take over the duties of CEO and the President from January 13, 2020. The company fired Kevin McAllister, a top executive linked to the MAX air disaster.

The company named veteran executive Stan Deal to the top job at commercial planes.&nbsp;

Boeing's profits fell in the third quarter after the crashes as the company cut production of its flagship Dreamliner and delayed the arrival of a successor to its 777 mini-jumbo.

According to a Dutch firm, the number of people killed due to crashes by commercial planes in 2019 fell by over fifty per cent despite Boeing 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia.

According to a Dutch firm, the number of people killed due to crashes by commercial planes in 2019 fell by over fifty per cent despite Boeing 737 MAX crash in Ethiopia. Dutch aviation consulting firm To70 said that there were eighty-six accidents which involved large commerical planes in 2019 which resulted in 257 people being killed. It said that there were eight fatal accidents last year. The study found in 2018, 160 accidents occurred with 13 described as being fatal in which 534 people were reportedly killed. A Boeing Lion Air 737 MAX airliner had crashed in Indonesia in October killing all 189 people on board. Indonesian investigators in a report said the crash occurred due to design flaws in the software. The Dutch research included crew members, flight attendants, passengers among those killed along with people who were killed on the ground. In March, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane crashed with 157 people on board. Ethiopian Airlines grounded its Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 fleet after the devastating crash which was followed by China and several other countries. As a result of the crashes, Boeing temporarily halted production of its grounded 737 Max for the first time in more than 20 years. In October, Boeing CEO Muilenburg stepped down amid the crashes as the company appointed David Calhoun as the new CEO. Calhoun will take over the duties of CEO and the President from January 13, 2020. The company fired Kevin McAllister, a top executive linked to the MAX air disaster. The company named veteran executive Stan Deal to the top job at commercial planes. Boeing's profits fell in the third quarter after the crashes as the company cut production of its flagship Dreamliner and delayed the arrival of a successor to its 777 mini-jumbo.

Major commercial plane crash deaths down over 50% in 2019: Study

<a href="Boeing 737MAX 8 jets stands idle at the company's delivery centre, just south of Seattle. It's one of an estimated four hundred 737MAX's stored in Seattle, many in a Boeing employee parking lot, as well as at airfields across the country.">Boeing</a>&nbsp;had hoped that the Federal Aviation Administration would re-certify the aircraft, grounded after two deadly crashes, by the end of the year. With a heavy order book, they kept producing the plane, albeit at a lower rate than before.

But when it became clear that re-certification and the lifting of the grounding order could still be months away,&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;announced they would stop&nbsp;production&nbsp;sometime in January, with 12,000 workers employed producing the aircraft being re-deployed to other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/wion-edit-the-fall-of-brand-boeing-268899">Boeing</a>&nbsp;manufacturing plants.

The news that no&nbsp;employees&nbsp;will be laid off when the&nbsp;production&nbsp;lines stops in January was welcomed by Jon Holden, President of the trade union representing factory floor workers.

"I think it was the right decision&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;made, to maintain our workforce during this temporary&nbsp;production&nbsp;stoppage. The reality is that it's important to maintain our workforce so that when the grounding is lifted, we're able to ramp up&nbsp;production, build a safe aircraft, meet the needs of the customers with the&nbsp;737MAX&nbsp;going forward," Holden said on Wednesday (December 18).

For workers on the&nbsp;737MAX&nbsp;production&nbsp;line at the Boeing&nbsp;Renton plant, the news came as a relief just before the Christmas holiday, but aviation analyst Scott Hamilton says the announcement of no lay-offs came with a caveat.

"Well, there's obviously still uncertainty because what&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;said was they aren't going to furlough, quote, "at this time", unquote. So how long does that mean?" said Hamilton, adding "Obviously,&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;maintaining the employee payroll at this point, before the holiday, is a real relief and committing to pay the bonuses that were earned, is a real relief to the&nbsp;employees&nbsp;but what does the end of "at this time" look like? We just don't know."

For the many small aerospace component manufacturers who supply parts for the&nbsp;737MAX, the immediate future is less certain. Its been reported that&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;has not contacted them as&nbsp;yet, with details of the&nbsp;production&nbsp;stoppage.

WATCH: Gravitas: The Downfall Of Boeing

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&nbsp;

Thousands of other jobs are dependent upon&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;737MAX&nbsp;contracts, as Scott Hamilton describes, "You have a supply chain outside Boeing&nbsp;that is going to be affected. We're still trying to understand what that effect is going to be. There haven't been any public announcement by&nbsp;Boeing. There have been some stories reported that they're going to try to keep some&nbsp;suppliers whole, if you will, or at least sustainable. Other&nbsp;suppliers, we just don't know."

And it won't just be manufacturing that might be affected if the&nbsp;production&nbsp;shutdown lasts very long, or if jobs in the component sector are furloughed. The local economy is heavily reliant upon wages paid by&nbsp;Boeing&nbsp;and its parts'&nbsp;suppliers.

For now&nbsp;Boeing's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/boeings-crisis-management-all-wrong-heres-what-a-company-needs-to-do-to-restore-the-publics-trust-205702">workers</a> are still clocking in at the Renton plant, but their union representative says the nine months since the&nbsp;737MAX&nbsp;was grounded has been hard on them.

"Our members care deeply about the work they perform, and they perform it in a fashion to build a safe aircraft. They are proud of the work they do. They are proud of the aircraft that they build, and it certainly has caused a lot of anxiety over these last several months," said Holden.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sales-of-grounded-boeing-737-max-gather-pace-at-dubai-airshow-263161">737MAX</a>'s await re-certification and delivery to the airlines that ordered them, Scott Hamilton believes that the impact of the&nbsp;production&nbsp;shutdown could be felt much more widely than just in the Seattle region if it goes on beyond a few weeks.

"I think you're looking at two to three months, would be my forecast. If it goes on to six months, boy, you're going to see&nbsp;employees&nbsp;furloughed without pay. You're going to see a ripple effect down through the supply chain. You're going to see a ripple effect through the US economy."

For now these multi-million dollar aircraft stand idle, mothballed in a parking lot while their fate is being decided by aviation regulators in the United States and around the world.

Boeing had hoped that the Federal Aviation Administration would re-certify the aircraft, grounded after two deadly crashes, by the end of the year. With a heavy order book, they kept producing the plane, albeit at a lower rate than before.

Boeing had hoped that the Federal Aviation Administration would re-certify the aircraft, grounded after two deadly crashes, by the end of the year. With a heavy order book, they kept producing the plane, albeit at a lower rate than before. But when it became clear that re-certification and the lifting of the grounding order could still be months away, Boeing announced they would stop production sometime in January, with 12,000 workers employed producing the aircraft being re-deployed to other Boeing manufacturing plants. The news that no employees will be laid off when the production lines stops in January was welcomed by Jon Holden, President of the trade union representing factory floor workers. "I think it was the right decision Boeing made, to maintain our workforce during this temporary production stoppage. The reality is that it's important to maintain our workforce so that when the grounding is lifted, we're able to ramp up production, build a safe aircraft, meet the needs of the customers with the 737MAX going forward," Holden said on Wednesday (December 18). For workers on the 737MAX production line at the Boeing Renton plant, the news came as a relief just before the Christmas holiday, but aviation analyst Scott Hamilton says the announcement of no lay-offs came with a caveat. "Well, there's obviously still uncertainty because what Boeing said was they aren't going to furlough, quote, "at this time", unquote. So how long does that mean?" said Hamilton, adding "Obviously, Boeing maintaining the employee payroll at this point, before the holiday, is a real relief and committing to pay the bonuses that were earned, is a real relief to the employees but what does the end of "at this time" look like? We just don't know." For the many small aerospace component manufacturers who supply parts for the 737MAX, the immediate future is less certain. Its been reported that Boeing has not contacted them as yet, with details of the production stoppage. WATCH: Gravitas: The Downfall Of Boeing × Thousands of other jobs are dependent upon Boeing 737MAX contracts, as Scott Hamilton describes, "You have a supply chain outside Boeing that is going to be affected. We're still trying to understand what that effect is going to be. There haven't been any public announcement by Boeing. There have been some stories reported that they're going to try to keep some suppliers whole, if you will, or at least sustainable. Other suppliers, we just don't know." And it won't just be manufacturing that might be affected if the production shutdown lasts very long, or if jobs in the component sector are furloughed. The local economy is heavily reliant upon wages paid by Boeing and its parts' suppliers. For now Boeing's workers are still clocking in at the Renton plant, but their union representative says the nine months since the 737MAX was grounded has been hard on them. "Our members care deeply about the work they perform, and they perform it in a fashion to build a safe aircraft. They are proud of the work they do. They are proud of the aircraft that they build, and it certainly has caused a lot of anxiety over these last several months," said Holden. As 737MAX's await re-certification and delivery to the airlines that ordered them, Scott Hamilton believes that the impact of the production shutdown could be felt much more widely than just in the Seattle region if it goes on beyond a few weeks. "I think you're looking at two to three months, would be my forecast. If it goes on to six months, boy, you're going to see employees furloughed without pay. You're going to see a ripple effect down through the supply chain. You're going to see a ripple effect through the US economy." For now these multi-million dollar aircraft stand idle, mothballed in a parking lot while their fate is being decided by aviation regulators in the United States and around the world.

Boeing supplier employees anxious as company halts 737 Max production

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-making-steady-progress-on-certifying-737-max-software-update-ceo-211569">Boeing </a>executives successfully beat back shareholder challenges to their authority on Monday as the company signaled it expects regulators to take a key step next week in the effort to get the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-faces-fresh-lawsuits-from-families-of-boeing-737-max-crash-victims-214726">737 MAX</a> back in the air following two deadly crashes.

The aerospace giant, under scrutiny following the crashes that killed 346 passengers and crew and grounded the MAX worldwide, won a vote of confidence from its investors, even as company management faced tough questions over plane design and the possible missteps in getting the aircraft to market.

Boeing expects the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a test flight by the end of next week of the software fix the company developed for the flight system on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-software-upgrade-operationally-suitable-faa-panel-211034">737 MAX</a>, a company spokesman said Monday. That would be a critical step in certifying the aircraft as flight-worthy.

However, an FAA spokesman said the agency had not released a date or time for the flight yet.

Amid reports of missteps in developing the newest version of its most popular aircraft, concerned shareholders used the annual meeting to seek greater transparency by proposing to make the chairman an independent director and to disclose lobbying activities and trade association memberships.

But those proposals garnered just 34 and 32 per cent of the votes, respectively, somewhat better than similar measures last year, but still well below 50 per cent.

The defeat of those motions no doubt was relief for Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg and other company brass but there was little sense of triumph at an annual meeting that included a moment of silence for the lives lost.

The company faces an uncertain timetable for bringing the grounded fleet back into service and tough questions over a new plane design that crashed twice, as well as potential costs from the crisis.

Muilenburg was asked during a press conference if he considered resigning.&nbsp;

"We're focused on safety and I can tell you these accidents weigh heavily on us as a company," he responded. "My clear intent is to continue to lead on the front of safety and quality and integrity."

The company reported last week that the crisis had added $1 billion to costs in the year's first quarter.

The 737 MAX has been grounded since mid-March following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight and an earlier Lion Air crash, a crisis that has raised questions about whether the US giant sacrificed safety in its zeal to market a new narrow-body plane and compete with Airbus.

At the shareholders meeting, Muilenburg faced some pointed questions from shareholders but defended the design of the 737 MAX as "thorough" and "disciplined."

Boeing has said both crashes involved erroneous information that came to the airplane through its anti-stall system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which the software update is meant to address.

"We know that in both accidents there was a chain of events that occurred. One of the links was the activation of the MCAS system because of the data," Muilenburg said at the media briefing. "We know we can break that link in the chain. The software update does that."

'Chain of Events'

But Muilenburg repeatedly declined to characterize the MCAS system as a design flaw, saying there is more than one factor in such catastrophic accidents and that an investigation is continuing.

"It's a chain of events. There is no singular item," he said. "I think it's really important that we all focus on letting the investigation process run its due course."

US carriers such as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are targeting August to resume flights on the 737 MAX in the expectation that Boeing will receive approval for its fix by that time.

Boeing has submitted some of the documentation to the FAA for the fix to the MCAS system, said a person familiar with the matter, adding that the application will be considered complete following a test flight in the coming days.

Boeing expects certification of the software fix some time after an FAA meeting with international regulators on May 23, the company spokesman said.

Fresh questions were raised over the weekend following revelations that prior to the Lion Air crash in October, Boeing deactivated a malfunction signal on 737 MAX planes owned by Southwest without telling the carrier, a feature that would detect a sensor error of the kind thought to have been a factor in both crashes.

The FAA considered recommending grounding the planes at the time as they explored whether pilots flying the aircraft needed additional training about the alerts, according to a source familiar with the matter.

They decided against that -- but never passed details of the discussions to higher-ranking officials in the FAA, the source said.

Shares of Boeing finished down 0.5 per cent at $379.05.

Boeing executives successfully beat back shareholder challenges to their authority on Monday as the company signaled it expects regulators to take a key step next week in the effort to get the 737 MAX back in the air following two deadly crashes.

Boeing executives successfully beat back shareholder challenges to their authority on Monday as the company signaled it expects regulators to take a key step next week in the effort to get the 737 MAX back in the air following two deadly crashes. The aerospace giant, under scrutiny following the crashes that killed 346 passengers and crew and grounded the MAX worldwide, won a vote of confidence from its investors, even as company management faced tough questions over plane design and the possible missteps in getting the aircraft to market. Boeing expects the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct a test flight by the end of next week of the software fix the company developed for the flight system on the 737 MAX, a company spokesman said Monday. That would be a critical step in certifying the aircraft as flight-worthy. However, an FAA spokesman said the agency had not released a date or time for the flight yet. Amid reports of missteps in developing the newest version of its most popular aircraft, concerned shareholders used the annual meeting to seek greater transparency by proposing to make the chairman an independent director and to disclose lobbying activities and trade association memberships. But those proposals garnered just 34 and 32 per cent of the votes, respectively, somewhat better than similar measures last year, but still well below 50 per cent. The defeat of those motions no doubt was relief for Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg and other company brass but there was little sense of triumph at an annual meeting that included a moment of silence for the lives lost. The company faces an uncertain timetable for bringing the grounded fleet back into service and tough questions over a new plane design that crashed twice, as well as potential costs from the crisis. Muilenburg was asked during a press conference if he considered resigning. "We're focused on safety and I can tell you these accidents weigh heavily on us as a company," he responded. "My clear intent is to continue to lead on the front of safety and quality and integrity." The company reported last week that the crisis had added $1 billion to costs in the year's first quarter. The 737 MAX has been grounded since mid-March following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight and an earlier Lion Air crash, a crisis that has raised questions about whether the US giant sacrificed safety in its zeal to market a new narrow-body plane and compete with Airbus. At the shareholders meeting, Muilenburg faced some pointed questions from shareholders but defended the design of the 737 MAX as "thorough" and "disciplined." Boeing has said both crashes involved erroneous information that came to the airplane through its anti-stall system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, which the software update is meant to address. "We know that in both accidents there was a chain of events that occurred. One of the links was the activation of the MCAS system because of the data," Muilenburg said at the media briefing. "We know we can break that link in the chain. The software update does that." 'Chain of Events' But Muilenburg repeatedly declined to characterize the MCAS system as a design flaw, saying there is more than one factor in such catastrophic accidents and that an investigation is continuing. "It's a chain of events. There is no singular item," he said. "I think it's really important that we all focus on letting the investigation process run its due course." US carriers such as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are targeting August to resume flights on the 737 MAX in the expectation that Boeing will receive approval for its fix by that time. Boeing has submitted some of the documentation to the FAA for the fix to the MCAS system, said a person familiar with the matter, adding that the application will be considered complete following a test flight in the coming days. Boeing expects certification of the software fix some time after an FAA meeting with international regulators on May 23, the company spokesman said. Fresh questions were raised over the weekend following revelations that prior to the Lion Air crash in October, Boeing deactivated a malfunction signal on 737 MAX planes owned by Southwest without telling the carrier, a feature that would detect a sensor error of the kind thought to have been a factor in both crashes. The FAA considered recommending grounding the planes at the time as they explored whether pilots flying the aircraft needed additional training about the alerts, according to a source familiar with the matter. They decided against that -- but never passed details of the discussions to higher-ranking officials in the FAA, the source said. Shares of Boeing finished down 0.5 per cent at $379.05.

Boeing wins confidence of shareholders, prepares for key 737 MAX test flight

Fresh lawsuits were filed against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-making-steady-progress-on-certifying-737-max-software-update-ceo-211569">Boeing </a>at the federal district court in Chicago&nbsp;by two families of passengers who lost their lives in the recent Ethiopian Airlines <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/if-i-were-boeing-i-would-fix-737-max-and-rebrand-the-plane-with-a-new-name-trump-210614">Boeing</a> 737 MAX crash that left all the 157 people on board dead.

The two plaintiffs - Manant Vaidya and Paul Njoroge - lost several close family members in the March 10 crash, which spurred the grounding of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-software-upgrade-operationally-suitable-faa-panel-211034">Boeing MAX jets</a> by a number of countries, including India.

Three generations of Canada-based Vaidya`s family, which had Indian origin, were killed. Those dead included the man`s father Pannagesh Bhaskar Vaidya, mother Hansini Pannagesh Vaidya, sister Kosha Pannagesh Vaidya, brother-in-law Preritkumar Dixit and two nieces, 14-year-old Ashka Dixit and 13-year-old Anushka Dixit.

"I lost three generations of my family, my parents, my sister, my nieces. If a person lost just one life, their whole life is shattered. But right now with me, I`m more like, I don`t know. I`m completely lost right now," Vaidya, accompanied by his wife Hiral, said during a news conference at the Clifford Law Offices here on Monday.

The other plaintiff, Njoroge, lost his wife Carolyne Nduta Karanja, mother-in-law Ann Karanja, and three children -- six-year-old son Ryan Njoroge Njuguna and daughters Kellie W. Pauls, four years, and Rubi W. Pauls, nine months, in the deadly crash, according to Xinhua.

"I stay up all night crying, thinking of the horror that they must have endured as pilots struggled to keep the plane flying for six minutes...The terror that my wife must have experienced with little Rubi on her lap...Our two children beside her, crying for their daddy, my mom-in-law, feeling helplessness...Those six minutes will forever be embedded in my mind. I was not there to help them. I couldn`t save them," Njoroge said, choking several times while reading out his statement.

Boeing has been working on safer technology updates after coming under fire following two crashes - the Ethiopian Airlines crash and the Lion Air crash - which took place within five months of each other and claimed the lives of 346 people.

The aircraft manufacturer`s shares plummeted to its worst-ever low following the March crash, seeing an approximate 5 per cent drop in its stock price since the incident.

"We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents...All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognize the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished," Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement earlier."

We`ve had teams of our top engineers and technical experts working tirelessly in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and our customers to finalize and implement a software update that will ensure accidents like that of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 never happen again," it read.

The fresh lawsuits join a string of others which were filed against the American company in the aftermath of the crashes. 
&nbsp;

Fresh lawsuits were filed against Boeing at the federal district court in Chicago by two families of passengers who lost their lives in the recent Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crash that left all the 157 people on board dead.

Fresh lawsuits were filed against Boeing at the federal district court in Chicago by two families of passengers who lost their lives in the recent Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crash that left all the 157 people on board dead. The two plaintiffs - Manant Vaidya and Paul Njoroge - lost several close family members in the March 10 crash, which spurred the grounding of Boeing MAX jets by a number of countries, including India. Three generations of Canada-based Vaidya`s family, which had Indian origin, were killed. Those dead included the man`s father Pannagesh Bhaskar Vaidya, mother Hansini Pannagesh Vaidya, sister Kosha Pannagesh Vaidya, brother-in-law Preritkumar Dixit and two nieces, 14-year-old Ashka Dixit and 13-year-old Anushka Dixit. "I lost three generations of my family, my parents, my sister, my nieces. If a person lost just one life, their whole life is shattered. But right now with me, I`m more like, I don`t know. I`m completely lost right now," Vaidya, accompanied by his wife Hiral, said during a news conference at the Clifford Law Offices here on Monday. The other plaintiff, Njoroge, lost his wife Carolyne Nduta Karanja, mother-in-law Ann Karanja, and three children -- six-year-old son Ryan Njoroge Njuguna and daughters Kellie W. Pauls, four years, and Rubi W. Pauls, nine months, in the deadly crash, according to Xinhua. "I stay up all night crying, thinking of the horror that they must have endured as pilots struggled to keep the plane flying for six minutes...The terror that my wife must have experienced with little Rubi on her lap...Our two children beside her, crying for their daddy, my mom-in-law, feeling helplessness...Those six minutes will forever be embedded in my mind. I was not there to help them. I couldn`t save them," Njoroge said, choking several times while reading out his statement. Boeing has been working on safer technology updates after coming under fire following two crashes - the Ethiopian Airlines crash and the Lion Air crash - which took place within five months of each other and claimed the lives of 346 people. The aircraft manufacturer`s shares plummeted to its worst-ever low following the March crash, seeing an approximate 5 per cent drop in its stock price since the incident. "We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents...All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognize the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished," Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement earlier." We`ve had teams of our top engineers and technical experts working tirelessly in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and our customers to finalize and implement a software update that will ensure accidents like that of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 never happen again," it read. The fresh lawsuits join a string of others which were filed against the American company in the aftermath of the crashes.

Boeing faces fresh lawsuits from families of Boeing 737 MAX crash victims

US president Donald Trump gave "branding" advice to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-lawsuit-filed-against-boeing-over-ethiopian-airlines-crash-206561">struggling Boeing company</a> in the wake of the 737 MAX fiasco asserting that "if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, &amp; REBRAND the plane with a new name."

On Friday, Boeing had announced it would cut production of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-official-report-states-crew-followed-procedures-ceo-says-proud-of-crashed-pilots-efforts-to-save-flight-207903">737 aircraft to 42 planes</a> per month after two recent crashes as its stocks plunged after the announcement.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, &amp; REBRAND the plane with a new name. 
No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1117736685721223168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Boeing also announced it was establishing an advisory panel to review its company-wide policies for designing and developing planes. 
&nbsp; 
Trump in is a tweet, however, said: "No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?"

"What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing."

The US Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) had said last week that more work was needed before the aerospace giant could even submit a proposed fix that is believed to be a factor in the disasters.

Boeing has been hit by two crashes in the past six months, the first in October last year led to the death of 189 people as the Lion Air passenger aircraft crashed. Last month on March 10th Ethiopian Airlines crashed killing all 157 people onboard. The twin crashes led all countries to ground their 737 MAX aircraft as concerns were raised over the flight control system on the plane.

Scrutiny has centred on the MAX 737s anti-stall system, manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system, which is believed to at fault.&nbsp;

Boeing said it would take "any and all" necessary safety measures to ensure the airworthiness of its aircraft.

The company said it plans to release a software fix to the anti-stall system used aboard the 737 MAX aircraft in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

US president Donald Trump gave "branding" advice to the struggling Boeing company in the wake of the 737 MAX fiasco asserting that "if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name.

US president Donald Trump gave "branding" advice to the struggling Boeing company in the wake of the 737 MAX fiasco asserting that "if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name." On Friday, Boeing had announced it would cut production of 737 aircraft to 42 planes per month after two recent crashes as its stocks plunged after the announcement. What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name. No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2019 × Boeing also announced it was establishing an advisory panel to review its company-wide policies for designing and developing planes. Trump in is a tweet, however, said: "No product has suffered like this one. But again, what the hell do I know?" "What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing." The US Federal Aviation Administration(FAA) had said last week that more work was needed before the aerospace giant could even submit a proposed fix that is believed to be a factor in the disasters. Boeing has been hit by two crashes in the past six months, the first in October last year led to the death of 189 people as the Lion Air passenger aircraft crashed. Last month on March 10th Ethiopian Airlines crashed killing all 157 people onboard. The twin crashes led all countries to ground their 737 MAX aircraft as concerns were raised over the flight control system on the plane. Scrutiny has centred on the MAX 737s anti-stall system, manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system, which is believed to at fault. Boeing said it would take "any and all" necessary safety measures to ensure the airworthiness of its aircraft. The company said it plans to release a software fix to the anti-stall system used aboard the 737 MAX aircraft in the coming weeks.

If I were Boeing, I would fix 737 MAX and rebrand the plane with a new name, tweets Trump

Aircraft manufacturing company Boeing has decided to cut production of 737 Max jets production by 20%. Watch this video to know more.

WION Wallet: Boeing decides to cut 737 Max 8 production by 20%

Boeing working to fix 737 Max anti-stall system

A lawsuit against <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeings-737-max-aircraft-what-comes-next-203786">Boeing Co</a> was filed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-regulators-under-fire-boeing-launches-charm-offensive-206100">US</a> federal court on Thursday in what appeared to be the first suit over a March 10 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-defends-its-boeing-planes-after-deadly-crash-205276">Ethiopian Airlines</a> 737 MAX crash that killed 157 people.

The lawsuit was filed in Chicago federal court by the family of Jackson Musoni, a citizen of Rwanda, and alleges that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/boeings-crisis-management-all-wrong-heres-what-a-company-needs-to-do-to-restore-the-publics-trust-205702">Boeing</a>, which manufactures the 737 MAX, had defectively designed the automated flight control system.

Boeing said it could not comment on the lawsuit.

"Boeing ... is working with the authorities to evaluate new information as it becomes available," it said, adding all inquiries about the ongoing accident investigation must be directed to the investigating authorities.

The 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide following the Ethiopian Airlines disaster, which came five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia that killed 189 people.

Boeing said on Wednesday it had reprogrammed software on its 737 MAX to prevent erroneous data from triggering an anti-stall system that is facing mounting scrutiny in the wake of two deadly nose-down crashes in the past five months.

The planemaker said the anti-stall system, which is believed to have repeatedly forced the nose lower in at least one of the accidents, in Indonesia last October, would only do so once per event after sensing a problem, giving pilots more control.

The crash of Boeing's passenger jet in Ethiopia raised the chances that families of the victims, even non-US residents, will be able to sue in US courts, where payouts are much larger than in other countries, some legal experts have said.

Wednesday's complaint was filed by Musoni's three minor children, who are Dutch citizens residing in Belgium.

The lawsuit says Boeing failed to warn the public, airlines and pilots of the airplane's allegedly erroneous sensors, causing the aircraft to dive automatically and uncontrollably.

Ethiopian officials and some analysts have said the Ethiopian Airlines jet behaved in a similar pattern as the 737 MAX involved in October's Lion Air disaster. The investigation into the March crash, which is being led by the Ethiopian Transport Ministry, is still at an early stage.

A lawsuit against Boeing Co was filed in US federal court on Thursday in what appeared to be the first suit over a March 10 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash that killed 157 people.

A lawsuit against Boeing Co was filed in US federal court on Thursday in what appeared to be the first suit over a March 10 Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash that killed 157 people. The lawsuit was filed in Chicago federal court by the family of Jackson Musoni, a citizen of Rwanda, and alleges that Boeing, which manufactures the 737 MAX, had defectively designed the automated flight control system. Boeing said it could not comment on the lawsuit. "Boeing ... is working with the authorities to evaluate new information as it becomes available," it said, adding all inquiries about the ongoing accident investigation must be directed to the investigating authorities. The 737 MAX planes were grounded worldwide following the Ethiopian Airlines disaster, which came five months after a Lion Air crash in Indonesia that killed 189 people. Boeing said on Wednesday it had reprogrammed software on its 737 MAX to prevent erroneous data from triggering an anti-stall system that is facing mounting scrutiny in the wake of two deadly nose-down crashes in the past five months. The planemaker said the anti-stall system, which is believed to have repeatedly forced the nose lower in at least one of the accidents, in Indonesia last October, would only do so once per event after sensing a problem, giving pilots more control. The crash of Boeing's passenger jet in Ethiopia raised the chances that families of the victims, even non-US residents, will be able to sue in US courts, where payouts are much larger than in other countries, some legal experts have said. Wednesday's complaint was filed by Musoni's three minor children, who are Dutch citizens residing in Belgium. The lawsuit says Boeing failed to warn the public, airlines and pilots of the airplane's allegedly erroneous sensors, causing the aircraft to dive automatically and uncontrollably. Ethiopian officials and some analysts have said the Ethiopian Airlines jet behaved in a similar pattern as the 737 MAX involved in October's Lion Air disaster. The investigation into the March crash, which is being led by the Ethiopian Transport Ministry, is still at an early stage.

US lawsuit filed against Boeing over Ethiopian Airlines crash

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-regulators-under-fire-boeing-launches-charm-offensive-206100">Boeing Co</a> confirmed Wednesday it will make a safety feature standard on its now-grounded 737 MAX that might have warned earlier of problems that possibly played a role in two recent crashes.

The company said in a statement will make the “Angle of Attack disagree” alert a standard feature on the 737 MAX and added it can be retrofitted on existing airplanes.

The company said in the future it will not charge customers who choose another safety feature known as the AOA indicator option.

Lawmakers on Wednesday questioned why Boeing had charged extra for some safety features. Boeing is releasing details of its proposed software upgrade to its anti-stall system later on Wednesday. 
&nbsp;

Boeing Co confirmed Wednesday it will make a safety feature standard on its now-grounded 737 MAX that might have warned earlier of problems that possibly played a role in two recent crashes.

Boeing Co confirmed Wednesday it will make a safety feature standard on its now-grounded 737 MAX that might have warned earlier of problems that possibly played a role in two recent crashes. The company said in a statement will make the “Angle of Attack disagree” alert a standard feature on the 737 MAX and added it can be retrofitted on existing airplanes. The company said in the future it will not charge customers who choose another safety feature known as the AOA indicator option. Lawmakers on Wednesday questioned why Boeing had charged extra for some safety features. Boeing is releasing details of its proposed software upgrade to its anti-stall system later on Wednesday.

Boeing confirms it will make safety feature standard on 737 MAX

The head of the US air safety agency faces harsh questions from senators Wednesday over its relationship with and oversight of Boeing, while the aerospace giant launches a charm offensive to try to restore its reputation after two air disasters in recent months killed 346 people.

Dan Elwell, acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration that sets standards for air safety around the world, will have to explain why the FAA delayed grounding the Boeing 737 MAX fleet after the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy, in which a MAX 8 crashed shortly after takeoff near Addis Ababa on March 10, killing 157 people.

The delay gave rise to suspicions of a too-cozy relationship between regulators and the American aircraft manufacturer, especially since Chinese and European authorities moved quickly to ban the planes due to the similarities with the October 29 crash in Indonesia of another 737 MAX 8, that time operated by Lion Air.&nbsp;

Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg will be absent from the Senate hearing Wednesday but is expected to be called at a later date.&nbsp;

Ahead of this day of reckoning, the company launched a campaign to convince the flying public that it is addressing the issues with the MAX, including a fix to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) stall prevention system implicated in the crashes. &nbsp;

Many journalists and pilots and airline officials were invited to Boeing's massive factory in Renton, Washington in the Pacific Northwest, to unveil the software changes and offer reassurances.

'Directly involved'

The FAA, which delegates some certification procedures to Boeing, including parts of the MAX, nevertheless was "directly involved" in the safety review of the MCAS, Elwell said in his prepared testimony, obtained by AFP.

"FAA engineers and flight test pilots were involved in the MCAS operational evaluation flight test," he will tell senators at the hearing, which begins at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT).

"The certification process was detailed and thorough," but "time yields more data" to be used to evaluate new products, which is what happened with the MAX, he added.

And Elwell acknowledged that as systems become more complex, the FAA's "oversight approach needs to evolve."

In the wake of the accidents and amid intense scrutiny, Boeing is racing to get the MAX back in the sky. &nbsp;

The company held tests flights Monday using the upgraded MCAS, following flight simulator tests Saturday. &nbsp;

The MCAS, which makes the aircraft dive when necessary in order to regain speed if it detects a stall or loss of airspeed, was developed specifically for the 737 MAX, which has a heavier engine than its predecessor, the 737 NG.

Boeing said the final version of the fix should be submitted to the FAA "at the end of the week," according to a company official.

Authorization pending

Among the changes, the MCAS will no longer repeatedly make corrections when the pilot tries to regain control and will be automatically disconnected in the event of disagreements between the two "angle of attack" sensors, two sources close to the matter told AFP.

This is a major change because until the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy, the MCAS was set to react to information from a single sensor and would repeatedly override pilot corrections.&nbsp;

The initial investigation into the Lion Air crash found that one of the AOA sensors failed but continued to transmit erroneous information to the MCAS.

Boeing also will install a warning feature -- at no cost --- called a "disagree light" to indicate to the pilot when the AOA sensors are out of sync.

The FAA chief must also assure senators that regulators will not fast track the MAX's return to the skies.

"The 737 MAX will return to service for US carriers and in US airspace only when the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is appropriate," he said.

The head of the US air safety agency faces harsh questions from senators Wednesday over its relationship with and oversight of Boeing, while the aerospace giant launches a charm offensive to try to restore its reputation after two air disasters in recent months killed 346 people.

The head of the US air safety agency faces harsh questions from senators Wednesday over its relationship with and oversight of Boeing, while the aerospace giant launches a charm offensive to try to restore its reputation after two air disasters in recent months killed 346 people. Dan Elwell, acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration that sets standards for air safety around the world, will have to explain why the FAA delayed grounding the Boeing 737 MAX fleet after the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy, in which a MAX 8 crashed shortly after takeoff near Addis Ababa on March 10, killing 157 people. The delay gave rise to suspicions of a too-cozy relationship between regulators and the American aircraft manufacturer, especially since Chinese and European authorities moved quickly to ban the planes due to the similarities with the October 29 crash in Indonesia of another 737 MAX 8, that time operated by Lion Air. Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg will be absent from the Senate hearing Wednesday but is expected to be called at a later date. Ahead of this day of reckoning, the company launched a campaign to convince the flying public that it is addressing the issues with the MAX, including a fix to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) stall prevention system implicated in the crashes. Many journalists and pilots and airline officials were invited to Boeing's massive factory in Renton, Washington in the Pacific Northwest, to unveil the software changes and offer reassurances. 'Directly involved' The FAA, which delegates some certification procedures to Boeing, including parts of the MAX, nevertheless was "directly involved" in the safety review of the MCAS, Elwell said in his prepared testimony, obtained by AFP. "FAA engineers and flight test pilots were involved in the MCAS operational evaluation flight test," he will tell senators at the hearing, which begins at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT). "The certification process was detailed and thorough," but "time yields more data" to be used to evaluate new products, which is what happened with the MAX, he added. And Elwell acknowledged that as systems become more complex, the FAA's "oversight approach needs to evolve." In the wake of the accidents and amid intense scrutiny, Boeing is racing to get the MAX back in the sky. The company held tests flights Monday using the upgraded MCAS, following flight simulator tests Saturday. The MCAS, which makes the aircraft dive when necessary in order to regain speed if it detects a stall or loss of airspeed, was developed specifically for the 737 MAX, which has a heavier engine than its predecessor, the 737 NG. Boeing said the final version of the fix should be submitted to the FAA "at the end of the week," according to a company official. Authorization pending Among the changes, the MCAS will no longer repeatedly make corrections when the pilot tries to regain control and will be automatically disconnected in the event of disagreements between the two "angle of attack" sensors, two sources close to the matter told AFP. This is a major change because until the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy, the MCAS was set to react to information from a single sensor and would repeatedly override pilot corrections. The initial investigation into the Lion Air crash found that one of the AOA sensors failed but continued to transmit erroneous information to the MCAS. Boeing also will install a warning feature -- at no cost --- called a "disagree light" to indicate to the pilot when the AOA sensors are out of sync. The FAA chief must also assure senators that regulators will not fast track the MAX's return to the skies. "The 737 MAX will return to service for US carriers and in US airspace only when the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is appropriate," he said.

US regulators under fire, Boeing launches charm offensive

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thailand-elections-polls-open-thai-king-urges-people-to-support-good-to-prevent-chaos-205166">Thailand election: Polls open, Thai King urges people to support 'good' to prevent 'chaos'&nbsp;</a>

Polls in Thai election opened on Sunday. This is the first time the country is going to general elections since the 2014 coup. Polls opened "at 92,320 polling stations across the country," Election Commission secretary-general Jarungvich Phumma told AFP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-iran-nuclear-researchers-warns-of-future-work-205171">US</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-slaps-sanctions-on-iran-nuclear-researchers-warns-of-future-work-205171"> slaps sanctions on Iran nuclear researchers, warns of future work</a>

The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Iranian nuclear researchers, saying it wanted to warn young scientists to steer clear of any future effort to build a bomb.

Sanctioning 14 individuals and 17 entities, US officials acknowledged that the nuclear work was in the past but said Washington wanted to make the targeted figures "radioactive."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hails-end-of-is-caliphate-vows-to-remain-vigilant-205175">Trump hails </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hails-end-of-is-caliphate-vows-to-remain-vigilant-205175">end</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hails-end-of-is-caliphate-vows-to-remain-vigilant-205175"> of IS 'caliphate,' vows to remain 'vigilant'</a>

President Donald Trump hailed the end of the Islamic State group's "caliphate" Saturday, vowing that the United States would remain "vigilant" against the diehard jihadists.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fix-to-737-max-anti-stall-software-is-ready-industry-sources-205177">Fix to 737 MAX anti-stall software is ready: Industry sources</a>

A fix to the anti-stall system suspected in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that killed 189 people in Indonesia is ready, industry sources said Saturday, as the company tries to avoid a lengthy grounding of its planes.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serena-williams-withdraws-from-miami-open-with-knee-injury-205167">Serena Williams withdraws from Miami Open with </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serena-williams-withdraws-from-miami-open-with-knee-injury-205167">knee</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serena-williams-withdraws-from-miami-open-with-knee-injury-205167"> injury</a>

Serena Williams withdrew from the WTA and ATP Masters Miami Open on Saturday with a left knee injury.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion's withdrawal comes a day after she beat Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in three sets to reach the third round.

Thailand election: Polls open, Thai King urges people to support 'good' to prevent 'chaos' Polls in Thai election opened on Sunday. This is the first time the country is going to general elections since the 2014 coup.

Thailand election: Polls open, Thai King urges people to support 'good' to prevent 'chaos' Polls in Thai election opened on Sunday. This is the first time the country is going to general elections since the 2014 coup. Polls opened "at 92,320 polling stations across the country," Election Commission secretary-general Jarungvich Phumma told AFP. US slaps sanctions on Iran nuclear researchers, warns of future work The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on Iranian nuclear researchers, saying it wanted to warn young scientists to steer clear of any future effort to build a bomb. Sanctioning 14 individuals and 17 entities, US officials acknowledged that the nuclear work was in the past but said Washington wanted to make the targeted figures "radioactive." Trump hails end of IS 'caliphate,' vows to remain 'vigilant' President Donald Trump hailed the end of the Islamic State group's "caliphate" Saturday, vowing that the United States would remain "vigilant" against the diehard jihadists. Fix to 737 MAX anti-stall software is ready: Industry sources A fix to the anti-stall system suspected in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that killed 189 people in Indonesia is ready, industry sources said Saturday, as the company tries to avoid a lengthy grounding of its planes. Serena Williams withdraws from Miami Open with knee injury Serena Williams withdrew from the WTA and ATP Masters Miami Open on Saturday with a left knee injury. The 23-time Grand Slam champion's withdrawal comes a day after she beat Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in three sets to reach the third round.

News brief: Big stories of the day

A fix to the anti-stall system suspected in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that killed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-lion-air-plane-with-189-on-board-crashes-into-sea-authorities-search-for-remains-174139">189 people in Indonesia</a> is ready, industry sources said Saturday, as the company tries to avoid a lengthy grounding of its planes.

Boeing was due to present the patch to officials and pilots of US airlines -- American, Southwest and United -- in Renton, Washington state, where the plane is assembled, other sources said.

"Boeing has already finalized the necessary corrective measures for the MAX," an aviation sector source told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will receive the patch "early next week," a government source added.

Asked how long the certification process could take after the patch is in the hands of the authorities, this source said that nothing has been decided yet.

The FAA declined to comment.

The Lion Air crash in Indonesia last October and another accident this month involving an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">Ethiopian Airlines jet</a>, which killed 346 people between them, have raised major concerns about the safety certification of the 737 MAX 8 model.&nbsp;

The Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10 led to the global grounding of 737 MAX planes.

Although it will take months to determine the exact cause of both crashes, investigators in the Lion case have honed in on the MCAS automated anti-stalling system designed to point the nose of the plane downward if it is in danger of stalling, or losing lift.

American Airlines and Southwest pilots were set to test simulators with the updates on Saturday, according to the sources.

Boeing neither confirmed nor denied the information.

The FAA had given until April for Boeing to make the necessary changes to the critical anti-stall system, and on March 15 two anonymous industry sources told AFP the upgrade would be ready in about 10 days.&nbsp;

A spokesman for United Airlines, whose fleet includes 14 of the 737 MAX 9 planes, confirmed the company's attendance at the training session.

Consumer protection&nbsp;

Southwest and its SWAPA pilots union "have subject matter experts from our Technical Pilot Team and Training Teams headed to Boeing to review documentation and training associated with the modification to the B737 speed trim system," a spokeswoman said.

The company is one of the biggest 737 MAX 8 customers, owning 34 of the planes.

"We've been working diligently and in close cooperation with the FAA on the software update. We are taking a comprehensive and careful approach to design, develop and test the software that will ultimately lead to certification," a Boeing spokeswoman said.

"There will be training provided by Boeing."

In addition to the software modification, the industry sources said Boeing has also finalized updates to its flight and pilots' training manuals, as the FAA asked.

"We have been engaging with all 737 MAX operators and we are continuing to schedule meetings to share information about our plans for supporting the 737 MAX fleet," the Boeing spokeswoman said, declining to confirm the timeline for the changes.

In another modification, the 737 MAX will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system, an industry source told AFP on Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

Neither the Lion Air aircraft nor the Ethiopian Airlines jet had the feature, the industry source said.

US and Ethiopian authorities have said this month's crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 near Addis Ababa bore "similarities" to last year's Lion Air crash.

Since the Ethiopian crash, pressure has intensified on Boeing and the image of the company -- which also makes combat aircraft and space equipment -- has been eroded.&nbsp;

Share value of the firm, which says it is the world's largest aerospace manufacturer, has dropped 12 per cent since the accident, wiping out $28 billion in market capitalization

Boeing and the FAA are under investigation by the Transportation Department over how the rollout of the jet was handled, including the anti-stall system.

The acting FAA head is among transport officials who are to testify on Wednesday before a congressional subcommittee.

Questioning is likely to focus on tight links between Boeing and the regulators, who maintain offices in the airplane factories and delegated a large part of the certification process for the 737 MAX and its anti-stall system to employees of Boeing, sources said.&nbsp;

Press reports say that the Department of Justice has also opened a criminal investigation into the 737 MAX's development.

Ralph Nader, the veteran US consumer protection advocate who lost a relative in the Ethiopia crash, called Friday for an organization to defend passengers' rights.&nbsp;

A fix to the anti-stall system suspected in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that killed 189 people in Indonesia is ready, industry sources said Saturday, as the company tries to avoid a lengthy grounding of its planes.

A fix to the anti-stall system suspected in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that killed 189 people in Indonesia is ready, industry sources said Saturday, as the company tries to avoid a lengthy grounding of its planes. Boeing was due to present the patch to officials and pilots of US airlines -- American, Southwest and United -- in Renton, Washington state, where the plane is assembled, other sources said. "Boeing has already finalized the necessary corrective measures for the MAX," an aviation sector source told AFP on condition of anonymity. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will receive the patch "early next week," a government source added. Asked how long the certification process could take after the patch is in the hands of the authorities, this source said that nothing has been decided yet. The FAA declined to comment. The Lion Air crash in Indonesia last October and another accident this month involving an Ethiopian Airlines jet, which killed 346 people between them, have raised major concerns about the safety certification of the 737 MAX 8 model. The Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10 led to the global grounding of 737 MAX planes. Although it will take months to determine the exact cause of both crashes, investigators in the Lion case have honed in on the MCAS automated anti-stalling system designed to point the nose of the plane downward if it is in danger of stalling, or losing lift. American Airlines and Southwest pilots were set to test simulators with the updates on Saturday, according to the sources. Boeing neither confirmed nor denied the information. The FAA had given until April for Boeing to make the necessary changes to the critical anti-stall system, and on March 15 two anonymous industry sources told AFP the upgrade would be ready in about 10 days. A spokesman for United Airlines, whose fleet includes 14 of the 737 MAX 9 planes, confirmed the company's attendance at the training session. Consumer protection Southwest and its SWAPA pilots union "have subject matter experts from our Technical Pilot Team and Training Teams headed to Boeing to review documentation and training associated with the modification to the B737 speed trim system," a spokeswoman said. The company is one of the biggest 737 MAX 8 customers, owning 34 of the planes. "We've been working diligently and in close cooperation with the FAA on the software update. We are taking a comprehensive and careful approach to design, develop and test the software that will ultimately lead to certification," a Boeing spokeswoman said. "There will be training provided by Boeing." In addition to the software modification, the industry sources said Boeing has also finalized updates to its flight and pilots' training manuals, as the FAA asked. "We have been engaging with all 737 MAX operators and we are continuing to schedule meetings to share information about our plans for supporting the 737 MAX fleet," the Boeing spokeswoman said, declining to confirm the timeline for the changes. In another modification, the 737 MAX will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system, an industry source told AFP on Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra. Neither the Lion Air aircraft nor the Ethiopian Airlines jet had the feature, the industry source said. US and Ethiopian authorities have said this month's crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 near Addis Ababa bore "similarities" to last year's Lion Air crash. Since the Ethiopian crash, pressure has intensified on Boeing and the image of the company -- which also makes combat aircraft and space equipment -- has been eroded. Share value of the firm, which says it is the world's largest aerospace manufacturer, has dropped 12 per cent since the accident, wiping out $28 billion in market capitalization Boeing and the FAA are under investigation by the Transportation Department over how the rollout of the jet was handled, including the anti-stall system. The acting FAA head is among transport officials who are to testify on Wednesday before a congressional subcommittee. Questioning is likely to focus on tight links between Boeing and the regulators, who maintain offices in the airplane factories and delegated a large part of the certification process for the 737 MAX and its anti-stall system to employees of Boeing, sources said. Press reports say that the Department of Justice has also opened a criminal investigation into the 737 MAX's development. Ralph Nader, the veteran US consumer protection advocate who lost a relative in the Ethiopia crash, called Friday for an organization to defend passengers' rights.

Fix to 737 MAX anti-stall software is ready: Industry sources

The chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines has rejected media reports that optional equipment for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indonesias-garuda-cancels-49-plane-boeing-737-order-after-crashes-204798">Boeing 737 MAX planes </a>was critical for safety aboard a flight that crashed this month.

The crash of flight 302 and a similar one involving Indonesia's Lion Air in October, both flying the new 737 MAX 8, have cost 346 lives and sparked the biggest crisis in decades for Boeing.

Grieving families, nervous travellers and airlines around the world are looking for answers while Boeing prepares updates aimed at getting the 737 MAX, with sales worth $500 billion at stake, back in the air.

In a sign of the impact on Boeing's business, Indonesia's Garuda is pushing to dump a $6 billion order for the grounded planes.

Teams from the three US airlines that own 737 MAX jets were also heading to Boeing's factory in Renton, Washington over the weekend to review a software upgrade.

One focus for investigators is software Boeing installed on the MAX series designed to push a plane's nose down if it senses too sharp an ascent and an indicator that shows that angle of flight.

Optional items

Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said it was important not to confuse safety-critical equipment with optional items.

"A Toyota is imported with all the necessary equipment to drive, like the engine and the wheels, but with air conditioning and the radio optional," Tewolde said.

"When Boeing supplies aircraft there are items which are mandatory for safety and then there are optional items," he added, noting the angle of attack indicator was optional.

Some media reports have questioned whether having this installed may have helped the cockpit crew regain control of flight 302, which crashed near Addis Ababa on March 10 killing all 157 aboard.

Tewolde rejected this, adding: "The angle of attack indicator was on the optional list along with the inflight entertainment system."

He echoed the words of Norwegian Air which said it had not selected the cockpit light warning of discrepancies between angle of attack sensors for its fleet of 18 MAX 8 aircraft.

"We have chosen not to fit this particular optional extra ...it is not a safety critical feature nor is it a requirement by any aviation authority," Norwegian told Reuters.

Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's biggest airline with a modern fleet of Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier aircraft and a flying history that dates back to the 1940s.

They have been flying Boeing planes since 1962 and have four MAX 8 jets, with another 25 worth some $3 billion on order.

Garuda

Garuda has written to Boeing asking to cancel its order for 49 737 MAX 8 planes, CFO Fuad Rizal said on Friday. CEO Ari Askhara told Reuters customers had lost trust in the plane.

The airline might switch to other Boeing models, Rizal told Reuters, adding it was in negotiations with Boeing while a move to Airbus planes was not under consideration. Garuda rival Lion Air is weighing what to do with an even bigger order following its crash, which killed all 189 passengers and crew aboard.

It has 190 Boeing jets worth $22 billion at list prices waiting to be delivered.

Boeing has said it is been working closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration on a software upgrade and training set to be deployed across the 737 MAX fleet in the coming weeks.

The FAA which certifies planes expects to approve these design changes no later than April, it has said.

American Airlines pilots this weekend were preparing to test the planned software upgrade, saying they want their own safety guarantees on the fix.

Southwest and United Airlines said they would also review documentation and training associated with Boeing's updates.

The chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines has rejected media reports that optional equipment for Boeing 737 MAX planes was critical for safety aboard a flight that crashed this month.

The chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines has rejected media reports that optional equipment for Boeing 737 MAX planes was critical for safety aboard a flight that crashed this month. The crash of flight 302 and a similar one involving Indonesia's Lion Air in October, both flying the new 737 MAX 8, have cost 346 lives and sparked the biggest crisis in decades for Boeing. Grieving families, nervous travellers and airlines around the world are looking for answers while Boeing prepares updates aimed at getting the 737 MAX, with sales worth $500 billion at stake, back in the air. In a sign of the impact on Boeing's business, Indonesia's Garuda is pushing to dump a $6 billion order for the grounded planes. Teams from the three US airlines that own 737 MAX jets were also heading to Boeing's factory in Renton, Washington over the weekend to review a software upgrade. One focus for investigators is software Boeing installed on the MAX series designed to push a plane's nose down if it senses too sharp an ascent and an indicator that shows that angle of flight. Optional items Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said it was important not to confuse safety-critical equipment with optional items. "A Toyota is imported with all the necessary equipment to drive, like the engine and the wheels, but with air conditioning and the radio optional," Tewolde said. "When Boeing supplies aircraft there are items which are mandatory for safety and then there are optional items," he added, noting the angle of attack indicator was optional. Some media reports have questioned whether having this installed may have helped the cockpit crew regain control of flight 302, which crashed near Addis Ababa on March 10 killing all 157 aboard. Tewolde rejected this, adding: "The angle of attack indicator was on the optional list along with the inflight entertainment system." He echoed the words of Norwegian Air which said it had not selected the cockpit light warning of discrepancies between angle of attack sensors for its fleet of 18 MAX 8 aircraft. "We have chosen not to fit this particular optional extra ...it is not a safety critical feature nor is it a requirement by any aviation authority," Norwegian told Reuters. Ethiopian Airlines is Africa's biggest airline with a modern fleet of Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier aircraft and a flying history that dates back to the 1940s. They have been flying Boeing planes since 1962 and have four MAX 8 jets, with another 25 worth some $3 billion on order. Garuda Garuda has written to Boeing asking to cancel its order for 49 737 MAX 8 planes, CFO Fuad Rizal said on Friday. CEO Ari Askhara told Reuters customers had lost trust in the plane. The airline might switch to other Boeing models, Rizal told Reuters, adding it was in negotiations with Boeing while a move to Airbus planes was not under consideration. Garuda rival Lion Air is weighing what to do with an even bigger order following its crash, which killed all 189 passengers and crew aboard. It has 190 Boeing jets worth $22 billion at list prices waiting to be delivered. Boeing has said it is been working closely with the US Federal Aviation Administration on a software upgrade and training set to be deployed across the 737 MAX fleet in the coming weeks. The FAA which certifies planes expects to approve these design changes no later than April, it has said. American Airlines pilots this weekend were preparing to test the planned software upgrade, saying they want their own safety guarantees on the fix. Southwest and United Airlines said they would also review documentation and training associated with Boeing's updates.

Ethiopian Airlines defends its Boeing planes after deadly crash

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-for-inquiry-into-faas-approval-boeing-737-max-8-204411">US&nbsp;Senate panel</a> plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lion-air-crash-cockpit-voice-recorder-describes-pilots-frantic-search-for-fix-say-sources-204511">aircraft crashed&nbsp;since October</a>, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers, officials said on Wednesday.

The hearing on federal oversight on commercial aviation by the Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation and space will include the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) acting administrator Dan Elwell, National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel, the committee confirmed.

Federal prosecutors are investigating the FAA`s certification of the Boeing 737 MAX that was grounded last week by regulators around the world.&nbsp;

The panel chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said that "in light of the recent tragedy in Ethiopia and the subsequent grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, this hearing will examine challenges to the state of commercial aviation safety, including any specific concerns highlighted by recent accidents."

A second hearing on aviation safety is planned "in the near future to hear from industry stakeholders that would include Boeing, other aviation manufacturers, airline pilots, and other stakeholders," the committee said.

Boeing Co, the world`s biggest planemaker, faces growing obstacles to returning its grounded 737 MAX fleet to the skies, while details emerged of an Indonesian crash last October with potential similarities to the Ethiopian disaster on March 10.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he would nominate Steve Erickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive to head the FAA. Elwell, the deputy administrator, has run the agency on an acting basis for 14 months.

A House panel also is expected to hold hearings in the aftermath of the fatal crashes. Boeing did not immediately comment Wednesday.

Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a flight to land safely on the Hudson River in New York in 2009, said in an op-ed Tuesday the FAA has a "too cozy" relationship with industry.

"In too many cases, FAA employees who rightly called for stricter compliance with safety standards and more rigorous design choices have been overruled by FAA management, often under corporate or political pressure," he wrote.

A US Senate panel plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed since October, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers, officials said on Wednesday.

A US Senate panel plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed since October, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers, officials said on Wednesday. The hearing on federal oversight on commercial aviation by the Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation and space will include the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) acting administrator Dan Elwell, National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel, the committee confirmed. Federal prosecutors are investigating the FAA`s certification of the Boeing 737 MAX that was grounded last week by regulators around the world. The panel chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said that "in light of the recent tragedy in Ethiopia and the subsequent grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, this hearing will examine challenges to the state of commercial aviation safety, including any specific concerns highlighted by recent accidents." A second hearing on aviation safety is planned "in the near future to hear from industry stakeholders that would include Boeing, other aviation manufacturers, airline pilots, and other stakeholders," the committee said. Boeing Co, the world`s biggest planemaker, faces growing obstacles to returning its grounded 737 MAX fleet to the skies, while details emerged of an Indonesian crash last October with potential similarities to the Ethiopian disaster on March 10. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he would nominate Steve Erickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive to head the FAA. Elwell, the deputy administrator, has run the agency on an acting basis for 14 months. A House panel also is expected to hold hearings in the aftermath of the fatal crashes. Boeing did not immediately comment Wednesday. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a flight to land safely on the Hudson River in New York in 2009, said in an op-ed Tuesday the FAA has a "too cozy" relationship with industry. "In too many cases, FAA employees who rightly called for stricter compliance with safety standards and more rigorous design choices have been overruled by FAA management, often under corporate or political pressure," he wrote.

US Senate panel to first grill FAA, then Boeing after fatal crashes

The captain of a doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight was unable to practice on a new simulator for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 before he died in a crash with 157 others, a pilot colleague said.

Yared Getachew, 29, was due for refresher training at the end of March, his colleague told, two months after Ethiopian Airlines had received the simulator.

The March 10 disaster, following another MAX 8 crash in Indonesia in October, has set off one of the biggest inquiries in aviation history, focussed on whether pilots were sufficiently versed on a new automated system.

In both cases, the pilots lost control soon after take-off and fought a losing battle to stop their jets plunging down.

In the Ethiopian crash, it was not clear if Yared's colleague - First Officer Ahmednur Mohammed, 25, who also died in the crash - had practised on the new MAX simulator.

Globally, most commercial airline pilots refresh training in simulators every six months. It was not clear if Yared or Ahmednur would have been trained on the new simulator or an older one for 737s that their airline also owned.

The MAX, which came into service two years ago, has a new automated system called MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System). It is meant to prevent a loss of lift which can cause an aerodynamic stall sending the plane downwards in an uncontrolled way.

"Boeing did not send manuals on MCAS," the Ethiopian Airlines pilot told Reuters in a hotel lobby, declining to give his name as staff have been told not to speak in public.

"Actually we know more about the MCAS system from the media than from Boeing."

Under unprecedented scrutiny and with its MAX fleet grounded worldwide, the world's largest planemaker has said airlines were given guidance on how to respond to the activation of MCAS software. It is also promising a swift update to the system.

Ethiopian Airlines declined to comment on the remarks of its pilot to Reuters about the simulator and MCAS system.

The captain of a doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight was unable to practice on a new simulator for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 before he died in a crash with 157 others, a pilot colleague said.

The captain of a doomed Ethiopian Airlines flight was unable to practice on a new simulator for the Boeing 737 MAX 8 before he died in a crash with 157 others, a pilot colleague said. Yared Getachew, 29, was due for refresher training at the end of March, his colleague told, two months after Ethiopian Airlines had received the simulator. The March 10 disaster, following another MAX 8 crash in Indonesia in October, has set off one of the biggest inquiries in aviation history, focussed on whether pilots were sufficiently versed on a new automated system. In both cases, the pilots lost control soon after take-off and fought a losing battle to stop their jets plunging down. In the Ethiopian crash, it was not clear if Yared's colleague - First Officer Ahmednur Mohammed, 25, who also died in the crash - had practised on the new MAX simulator. Globally, most commercial airline pilots refresh training in simulators every six months. It was not clear if Yared or Ahmednur would have been trained on the new simulator or an older one for 737s that their airline also owned. The MAX, which came into service two years ago, has a new automated system called MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System). It is meant to prevent a loss of lift which can cause an aerodynamic stall sending the plane downwards in an uncontrolled way. "Boeing did not send manuals on MCAS," the Ethiopian Airlines pilot told Reuters in a hotel lobby, declining to give his name as staff have been told not to speak in public. "Actually we know more about the MCAS system from the media than from Boeing." Under unprecedented scrutiny and with its MAX fleet grounded worldwide, the world's largest planemaker has said airlines were given guidance on how to respond to the activation of MCAS software. It is also promising a swift update to the system. Ethiopian Airlines declined to comment on the remarks of its pilot to Reuters about the simulator and MCAS system.

Ethiopian Airline crash: Captain untrained on 737 MAX simulator, says report

The United States Transport Department has directed its internal watchdog to conduct an inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopian-airline-crash-boeing-finalising-737-max-software-update-203974">Boeing 737 MAX 8</a>.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeings-737-max-aircraft-what-comes-next-203786">Boeing aircraft</a>, which has been involved in two major crashes in the last five months, has been grounded by scores of governments and airlines citing safety concerns following the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash which claimed the lives of all 157 people on board.

The audit has been ordered by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday (local time), who stated, "Safety is the top priority of the department, and all of us are saddened by the fatalities resulting from the recent accidents involving two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia."

She further wrote that the inquiry will "help inform the department's&nbsp;decision-making and the public's understanding and to assist the FAA in ensuring that its safety procedures are implemented effectively," according to The New York Times.

The FAA finds itself mired in controversy over its certification and approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet."We are currently developing the scope and objectives of our review and expect to formally announce and begin our audit work as soon as possible," the Transportation Department`s Office of Inspector General said.

Boeing has since agreed to cooperate with the review.&nbsp;

The United States Transport Department has directed its internal watchdog to conduct an inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The United States Transport Department has directed its internal watchdog to conduct an inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The Boeing aircraft, which has been involved in two major crashes in the last five months, has been grounded by scores of governments and airlines citing safety concerns following the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash which claimed the lives of all 157 people on board. The audit has been ordered by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday (local time), who stated, "Safety is the top priority of the department, and all of us are saddened by the fatalities resulting from the recent accidents involving two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia." She further wrote that the inquiry will "help inform the department's decision-making and the public's understanding and to assist the FAA in ensuring that its safety procedures are implemented effectively," according to The New York Times. The FAA finds itself mired in controversy over its certification and approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet."We are currently developing the scope and objectives of our review and expect to formally announce and begin our audit work as soon as possible," the Transportation Department`s Office of Inspector General said. Boeing has since agreed to cooperate with the review.

US calls for enquiry into FAA's approval of Boeing 737 MAX 8

Boeing is finalising a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-boxes-show-clear-similarities-with-indonesia-crash-ethiopia-says-203937">under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes</a>, the company's CEO has said.

"Boeing is finalising its development of a previously-announced software update and pilot training revision that will address the MCAS flight control law's behaviour in response to erroneous sensor inputs," the US-based aircraft manufacturer's president and CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said in a statement Sunday.

On Friday two anonymous industry sources told AFP the upgrade should be ready in about 10 days.

Muilenburg's announcement came after Ethiopia's transport minister earlier Sunday said black box data recovered from the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last week shows "clear similarities" with last year's Lion Air accident in Indonesia — which involved the same Max 8 type of aircraft.

Industry sources caution that the MCAS upgrade does not point to a cause of the Ethiopian crash, something Muilenburg's statement also indicated.

He said the MCAS modification is taking place "while investigators continue to work to establish definitive conclusions." The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is an automated safety feature on the 737 Max 8 designed to prevent the plane from entering into a stall, or losing lift.

Both the Lion Air jet, which crashed in October, killing 189 people, and the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft, which went down a week ago Sunday, leaving 157 people dead, were fitted with the system.

The two planes experienced similarly erratic steep climbs and descents and fluctuating airspeeds before crashing shortly after takeoff.

A malfunction of the system was implicated in the Lion Air accident.

The 737 Max 8 and 9 have been grounded worldwide since the Ethiopia crash. 
MCAS was introduced by Boeing on the 737 Max 8 because its heavier, more fuel-efficient engines changed the aerodynamic qualities of the workhorse aircraft and can cause the plane's nose to pitch up in certain conditions during manual flight.

Angle of attack sensors on the aircraft tell the MCAS to automatically point the nose of the plane down if it is in danger of going into a stall.

According to the flight data recorder, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the automated MCAS system repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down following takeoff.

The pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines plane reported similar difficulty before the aircraft plunged into the ground shortly after takeoff.

A preliminary report on the Lion Air accident blamed it in part on a faulty angle of attack sensor that triggered the MCAS system and automatically forced the plane's nose down.

Boeing came in for some criticism after the Indonesian crash for allegedly failing to adequately inform 737 pilots about the functioning of MCAS or provide training about the system.

After that crash, the company issued a bulletin to airlines operating the 737 Max 8 advising pilots how to override the MCAS system, and said it was working on software updates.&nbsp;

Boeing is finalising a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes, the company's CEO has said.

Boeing is finalising a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes, the company's CEO has said. "Boeing is finalising its development of a previously-announced software update and pilot training revision that will address the MCAS flight control law's behaviour in response to erroneous sensor inputs," the US-based aircraft manufacturer's president and CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said in a statement Sunday. On Friday two anonymous industry sources told AFP the upgrade should be ready in about 10 days. Muilenburg's announcement came after Ethiopia's transport minister earlier Sunday said black box data recovered from the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last week shows "clear similarities" with last year's Lion Air accident in Indonesia — which involved the same Max 8 type of aircraft. Industry sources caution that the MCAS upgrade does not point to a cause of the Ethiopian crash, something Muilenburg's statement also indicated. He said the MCAS modification is taking place "while investigators continue to work to establish definitive conclusions." The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is an automated safety feature on the 737 Max 8 designed to prevent the plane from entering into a stall, or losing lift. Both the Lion Air jet, which crashed in October, killing 189 people, and the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft, which went down a week ago Sunday, leaving 157 people dead, were fitted with the system. The two planes experienced similarly erratic steep climbs and descents and fluctuating airspeeds before crashing shortly after takeoff. A malfunction of the system was implicated in the Lion Air accident. The 737 Max 8 and 9 have been grounded worldwide since the Ethiopia crash. MCAS was introduced by Boeing on the 737 Max 8 because its heavier, more fuel-efficient engines changed the aerodynamic qualities of the workhorse aircraft and can cause the plane's nose to pitch up in certain conditions during manual flight. Angle of attack sensors on the aircraft tell the MCAS to automatically point the nose of the plane down if it is in danger of going into a stall. According to the flight data recorder, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the automated MCAS system repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down following takeoff. The pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines plane reported similar difficulty before the aircraft plunged into the ground shortly after takeoff. A preliminary report on the Lion Air accident blamed it in part on a faulty angle of attack sensor that triggered the MCAS system and automatically forced the plane's nose down. Boeing came in for some criticism after the Indonesian crash for allegedly failing to adequately inform 737 pilots about the functioning of MCAS or provide training about the system. After that crash, the company issued a bulletin to airlines operating the 737 Max 8 advising pilots how to override the MCAS system, and said it was working on software updates.

Boeing 'finalising' anti-stall software update after plane crashes

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