Boeing 737 Max airplane crashes: all of the news, updates, and analyses

The Department of Transportation’s inspector general is probing the Federal Aviation Administration’s approval of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 aircraft after new reports raised questions about the FAA’s reliance on the aircraft manufacturer during its certification process. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors are also looking into Boeing. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a subpoena has been issued to at least one person involved in the Max 8’s development.

The DOT’s investigation is focused on the FAA’s Seattle office, which certifies the safety of new aircraft. The subpoena is seeking documents from the office, including emails, correspondence, and other messages, the Journal reports.

Two Boeing 737 Max 8 jets, a variant of the world’s most popular jetliner, crashed within six months of each other in a stunning rate of failure that raises questions about the airplane’s automated systems.

Preliminary data from the first crash, Lion Air Flight 610, suggests that the automated system forced the plane into a steep dive soon after takeoff. At least half a dozen pilots have complained about unexpected nosedives from the system.

President Trump announced on Wednesday that the US would temporarily ban all Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 jets from flying, following nearly every country in the world that has ordered that the airplane be grounded since the deadly crash in Ethiopia on Sunday.

More than 40 countries have grounded the 737 Max 8 after it was involved in two deadly crashes, one in Indonesia last October and the more recent one in Ethiopia. But until now, the US Federal Aviation Administration allowed the plane to fly, and the Trump administration was criticized for putting Boeing’s well-being over the safety of American passengers.

The airplane’s nose can tilt down suddenly during takeoff, pilots aren’t being adequately trained on the autopilot system, and the operations manual is “criminally insufficient.” These are the complaints of US pilots in incident reports involving Boeing’s 737 Max 8 jetliner, the same model that was involved in two deadly crashes in recent months.

The reports, which were reported by multiple news outlets this week, cast a harsh light on the Max 8 jet that have been at the center of a global ban. More than 40 countries have grounded the airplane following two deadly crashes, one in Indonesia and the more recent one in Ethiopia. But the US Federal Aviation Administration continues to allow the plane to fly, and the Trump administration is being criticized for putting Boeing’s well-being over the safety of American passengers.

The fate of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 is uncertain after more countries barred the aircraft from flying, even as US officials declined to act. The plane was already suspended in China, Indonesia, and Ethiopia after an Ethiopian Airlines crash killed 157 people on Sunday. Today, the UK, Australia, Poland, and Singapore became the latest countries to ground the 200-seat Boeing 737 Max 8. Hours later, the European Union’s top aviation safety agency followed suit.

Just six months ago, the same model of airplane crashed off the coast of Indonesia, and all 189 passengers on board were killed. Both crashes are still being investigated, but aviation officials around the world aren’t waiting to take action. The UK’s Civilian Aviation Authority said it lacked “sufficient information” as to the cause of Sunday’s crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, but it would be stopping commercial flights involving the jetliner as a “precautionary measure.” Australia and Singapore’s respective aviation authorities characterized the move as a “temporary measure.”