Boeing mulling design changes for 737 MAX following Lion Air crash
The FAA has denied reports it had launched a new investigation of safety studies performed by Boeing on its 737 MAX aircraft models, following the crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia last month.
The agency shot down claims made in a Wall Street Journal report stating it was ‘not doing a safety probe’ outside of the ongoing Lion Air crash investigation.
All 189 people on board were killed when the new Lion Air 737 MAX jet dived into the sea.
However, the FAA and Boeing Co. are looking closely at whether design changes are needed for the jets.
Operating procedures and pilot training may change as more information is analyzed from the investigation, the FAA said.
"As we have previously said, we have issued an airworthiness directive and will continue to take appropriate action," the agency said in a statement.
US pilot unions say Boeing didn’t tell them about an automated stall-prevention system added to their 737 MAX aircraft which may have been partly the cause of the deadly Lion Air crash.
Jon Weaks, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said they ‘were kept in the dark’ by Boeing.
"We do not like the fact that a new system was put on the aircraft and wasn’t disclosed to anyone or put in the manuals," Weaks said.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025