Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

The crash was the second in roughly six months involving Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 fleet, one the manufacturer’s latest models. The previous crash, Indonesian Lion Air Flight JT 610, occurred in October 2018 and claimed the lives of 189 passengers and crew members.

Are the two plane crashes connected?

Boeing came under scrutiny as similarities between the two crashes began to be revealed. Like the latest disaster involving Ethiopian Airlines, the Lion Air flight crashed minutes after takeoff from Jakarta. Also in both cases, the planes’ pilots requested to return to the airport shortly after takeoff after experiencing dips in altitude as the planes appeared to go into a nosedive during their initial climb.

It has been reported that a new software rollout intended to prevent the planes from stalling may be responsible for difficulty the pilots reported as they attempted to control both planes. Reports indicate that in the case of the Indonesian flight, the automated flight control system, Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), may have been responding to data from a faulty sensor. As a result, it is suspected that the system repeatedly forced the plane’s nose downward in an attempt to correct a problem that didn’t exist. While Boeing states controls are available for pilots to override the system, it appears the pilots on the doomed flights were not familiar with the procedure to do so. 

Aviation authorities are currently investigating to determine any connections between the two crashes, Boeing’s role, as well as allegations that pilots were not properly trained on changes in the software before the new fleet was rolled out for mass use. In the meantime, the 737 MAX 8 fleet has been grounded worldwide as investigations into both crashes are ongoing. 

Boeing released a statement shortly after the latest crash saying it is “deeply saddened” by the crash, and that it would “provide technical assistance” under the direction of the NTSB.

Our Experience in Aircraft Crash Cases

Motley Rice aviation attorneys have extensive experience investigating plane disasters involving international commercial airlines, and have represented families of passengers when mechanical failures and other issues that were found to be at fault. Aviation lawyer and CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo is a former inspector general for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Aviation attorney James Brauchle is a former U.S. Air Force navigator with years of flying experience. Both provided on-air analysis following the crash. See more of their commentary and analysis following the fatal crash.

About the Author

Mary F. Schiavo

Member

A CNN Analyst and former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, Mary Schiavo seeks accountability and industry change from corporations, institutions and the government so that they may meet their obligation to protect the safety and security of the traveling public. View Mary's media clips.