Friday, January 1, 2021
Operated by American Airlines, the Boeing 737 Max has decided to resume passenger flights after being grounded for nearly two years following fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The plane recently made a trip from Miami to LaGuardia in New York without incident.
American Airlines flight 718 touched down safely after a 20-month safety ban was lifted last month with nearly 100 passengers on board. The airline and plane manufacturer Boeing have sought to reassure the public over the safety of the 737 Max after it was cleared by US regulators to resume flights in November.
The aircraft was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in five months in Indonesia and Ethiopia killing nearly 346 people. In both crashes, the system caused the nose of the aircraft to be pushed down repeatedly based on faulty sensor readings, and pilots were unable to regain control.
As it sought to get the plane back in the sky, Boeing agreed to software upgrades and new safety precautions on a flight control system linked in both crashes. The flight comes after a host of measures by American, including flight control updates, maintenance work, fresh pilot training and meetings with flight crews set to explain the changes and address concerns.
Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes and Grupo Aeromexico have also restarted commercial operations. All three carriers said customers will have the chance to change flights if they are uncomfortable with the Max aircraft.
Tags: American Airlines, Boeing 737 MAX
Tuesday, January 2, 2024
