Boeing 737 MAX Cleared To Fly Again After Nearly Two Years

Topline

Nearly two years after two deadly crashes ground to a halt production of Boeing’s popular 737 MAX plane and sent the company into a tailspin, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday deemed the jet safe to carry passengers again. 

A Southwest Boeing 737 Max 8 enroute from Tampa prepares to land at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood … [+] International Airport on March 11, 2019.

Getty Images Key Facts

Boeing’s best-selling plane was grounded by the Trump administration in March 2019 after two brand-new aircrafts crashed within an eight month span, killing a total of 346 people.

Both devastating crashes were caused by a faulty sensor in the flight control system which would push the nose of the plane downwards—there was no backup sensor and pilots were not adequately trained to correct the problem. 

Over the course of its 20-month grounding, Boeing changed its software to limit the system’s persistent pushing down of the MAX’s nose, and conducted a slew of certification test flights. 

Boeing still needs to update its flight software and train pilots so the planes likely won’t be in commission immediately. 

Though it will be an uphill battle to regain the industry’s and public’s confidence in the plane—compounded by the coronavirus pandemic’s devastation of the aviation industry—Boeing’s shares rose 5% in premarket trading on Wednesday. 

Crucial Quote

“The design and certification of this aircraft included an unprecedented level of collaborative and independent reviews by aviation authorities around the world,” said the FAA’s announcement. “Those regulators have indicated that Boeing’s design changes, together with the changes to crew procedures and training enhancements, will give them the confidence to validate the aircraft as safe to fly in their respective countries and regions.”

Key Background 

The two crashes—one Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa and one Lion Air flight that crashed over the Java Sea—plunged Boeing into a reputational and economic crisis. Revelations about the software’s development and approval, which suggested the company had prioritized profits over safety, led to increased scrutiny from Congress and the public. The accidents also prompted several investigations, including a criminal inquiry from the Justice Department. With billions of dollars down the drain, the company’s largest financial hit in its over 100-year history, and diminished public confidence, top executives, including the company’s CEO Dennis Muilenburg, left Boeing. 

Further Reading 

“Revisiting Boeing Stock’s Long Term Outlook” (Forbes) 

“FAA Is Set To Let 737 MAX Fly Again, But Airlines Won’t Be Ready For A While” (Forbes) 

“What Really Brought Down the Boeing 737 Max?” (The New York Times)