Pressure mounts on FAA to ground Boeing MAX 8 jets
North America stands virtually alone in continuing to allow Boeing MAX 8 flights, but a succession of US lawmakers are calling for its urgent grounding.
Massachusetts Senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren wants the jets ‘out of the sky’ following the deadly air crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people.
It was the second deadly crash involving the model in just five months.
"Dozens of Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes fly daily in the United States. While we do not know the causes of these crashes, serious questions have been raised about whether these planes were pressed into service without additional pilot training in order to save money," Warren said.
"Today, immediately, the FAA needs to get these planes out of the sky."
She was joined by Senators Dianne Feinstein, Richard Blumenthal and Mitt Romney who also urged the FAA to ground all MAX 8 flights.
Now American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are being pressured by their own workers.
Flight attendants have also urged the airlines to ground the airplanes.
"Our flight attendants are very concerned with the recent Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 crash, which has raised safety concerns with the 737 MAX 8," said Lori Bassani, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.
"Many respected global carriers are grounding the planes. Strongly consider grounding these planes until a thorough investigation can be performed."
As the FAA issued a global notice of ‘continued airworthiness’ the rest of the world, from Europe to Australia, is not listening anymore.
Although still considered the gold standard for global aviation safety, the world is no longer putting its blind trust in the federal agency.
"I’m watching this unfold with an element of astonishment and bemusement. What we’re looking at here is almost a rebellion against the FAA," said Sandy Morris, a London based aerospace analyst at Jefferies International.
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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.
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