Carrier

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    Preliminary findings on ET 302 and Boeing Statement

    Preliminary findings on ET 302 crash:

    1. Aircraft’s airworthiness was certified;
    2. The crew were capable of flying& followed Boeing’s procedures;
    3. Take off appeared normal;
    4. Crew followed all procedures, but was unable to control the aircraft.

    The release of the actual preliminary report by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport is expected during Apr 4th or Apr 5th 2019.

    Boeing statement
    We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 MAX accidents. These tragedies continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, and we extend our sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognize the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished.

    The full details of what happened in the two accidents will be issued by the government authorities in the final reports, but, with the release of the preliminary report of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident investigation, it’s apparent that in both flights the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, known as MCAS, activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information.

    The history of our industry shows most accidents are caused by a chain of events. This again is the case here, and we know we can break one of those chain links in these two accidents. As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It’s our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it.

    From the days immediately following the Lion Air accident, we’ve had teams of our top engineers and technical experts working tirelessly in collaboration with the Federal Aviation Administration and our customers to finalize and implement a software update that will ensure accidents like that of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 never happen again.

    We’re taking a comprehensive, disciplined approach, and taking the time, to get the software update right. We’re nearing completion and anticipate its certification and implementation on the 737 MAX fleet worldwide in the weeks ahead. We regret the impact the grounding has had on our airline customers and their passengers.

    This update, along with the associated training and additional educational materials that pilots want in the wake of these accidents, will eliminate the possibility of unintended MCAS activation and prevent an MCAS-related accident from ever happening again.

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    MCAS At the forefront of Boeing 737 MAX Controversy


    Everything that is essential to a plane’s operation should be included in pilot training. The pilot must know his tools backward and forward. What happens when that training is curtailed?

    On March 19th, the US Department of Transportation announced that its inspector general will audit the 737 Max 8’s certification process. Some pilots say they know how to address problems with the 737 Max 8’s maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) system. Pilots say the MCAS software system can (apparently) be disabled by hitting the trim switch on the control column. Difference training is required for pilots who fly the Max, but apparently (MCAS) explanations, operations, procedures related to the differences were left out of the manual. The flight manual of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 planes mentions MCAS computer system only once. If MCAS information was cut from the manual to prevent the MCAS from having to be included in 737 Max transition training, whoever cut it considered only that it would save 737 Max operators training costs, but not what it would cost in terms of human lives.

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    Ethiopian Boeing 737-8 MAX Crash in Bishoftu Ethiopia

    Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX Flight ET-302 had just taken off from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia en route to Nairobi Kenya when radar contact was lost, and the plane crashed. 149 passengers and 8 crew were lost. The impact occurred near Bishoftu, Ethiopia 17 m SSE of Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines announced that no survivors were found. People from 33 different countries were aboard.
    On Mar 10th 2019 Ethiopian Airlines reported that the crew reported difficulties and requested a return to Addis Ababa.

    BBC Africa reported aboard were 32 Kenyan, 18 Canadian, 9 Ethiopian,8 Chinese, 8 Italian, 8 American,7 French, 7 British, 6 Egyptian, 5 Dutch, 4 UN passports, 4 Indian, 3 Russian, 2 Moroccan, 2 Israeli, 1 Belgian, 1 Ugandan, 1 Yemeni, 1 Sudanese, 1 Togolese, 1 Mozambican, 1 Norwegian

    Ethiopian Airlines said:


    Boeing said:

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    Austrian Airlines Flight Makes Emergency Landing at Milan Malpensa Airport

    Austrian Airlines flight OS-509 made an emergency landing at Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy, on February 25th.

    The Airbus A319-100 plane flying from Vienna, Austria, was descending toward Milan Malpensa Airport when the crew reported an unusual smell in the cabin.

    The plane continued for a safe landing. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

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    Endeavor Air Plane Suffers Wing Damage at JFK Airport

    Endeavor Air flight 9E-5336 suffered wing damage at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, on February 25th.

    The incident happened after the plane bound for Dulles International Airport, Virginia, was cleared to line up for departure.

    The plane returned to the apron.

    Authorities believe the wing damage was caused by the jet blast from another aircraft.

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    British Airways Flight Diverts to London Stansted Airport due to Cargo Smoke Indication

    British Airways flight BA-706 made an emergency landing at London Stansted Airport, England, on February 25th.

    The Airbus A320-200N plane heading from Heathrow Airport, England, to Vienna, Austria, was diverted after the crew received a cargo smoke indication.

    The plane landed safely. All passengers and crew members remained unharmed.

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    Delta Airlines Plane Encounters Turbulence Near LaGuardia Airport

    Delta Airlines flight DL-2056 encountered turbulence near LaGuardia Airport, New York, on February 24th.

    The Airbus A319-100 plane flying from New Orleans, Louisiana, was on final approach to LaGuardia Airport, when it hit turbulence, prompting the crew to go around.

    The plane subsequently landed safely.

    Four passengers were injured in the incident.

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    Biman Bangladesh Airlines Plane Lands Safely After Hijack Attempt

    Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-147 made an emergency landing in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on February 23rd.

    The Boeing 737-800 plane was flying from Dhaka, Bangladesh, when a passenger attempted to enter the cockpit at gunpoint.

    The plane landed uneventfully.

    All Passengers and crew members disembarked while the security forces tried to negotiate with the purported hijacker. He was later shot by the security forces when he refused to surrender and was taken to a hospital where he died.

    An investigation into the incident is underway.

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    Atlas Air Plane With Three On Board Crashes Near Houston

    An Atlas Air plane crashed into Trinity Bay near Houston, Texas, on February 23rd.

    The Boeing 767-300 freighter plane, operating as an Amazon Air flight, was heading from Miami, Florida, to Houston, Texas, when it went down.

    There were three crew members aboard at the time. One dead body was recovered near the crash site while the other crew members remain missing.