Boeing 737 MAX Flight Safety Report: An In-Depth Analysis

The tragic crashes of two Boeing MAX 737s led to the grounding of the plane around the world. Recently, a report from the US government has analyzed the events that transpired and found significant flaws in Boeing and the FAA, the US air safety regulator. In light of this, many travelers may wonder about flight safety.

Air travel remains statistically one of the safest modes of transportation, having achieved this status through consistent improvement, strong regulatory measures, and a relentless dedication to learning from past mistakes. However, the high-profile crashes of the 2018 Lion Air and the 2019 Ethiopian Airways, which resulted in the loss of 346 lives, have caused widespread concern among passengers.

Key Findings of the Report

This week, the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure published a report detailing the severe flaws surrounding the Boeing 737 MAX, coupled with alarming oversight failures by the FAA.

The report reveals that “Boeing’s design and development of the 737 MAX was marred by technical design failures, lack of transparency, and an inadequate response to safety concerns.” Furthermore, the FAA was found to have conducted a “grossly insufficient” certification review, failing to identify critical safety problems during the certification process.

While the full report spans 238 pages filled with technical details, the overarching question for many travelers is this: “Should I be alarmed about flight safety given these findings?”

Widespread Safety Concerns

It is crucial for air travelers to acknowledge that the company producing roughly half of the world’s airliners has encountered significant safety issues. Systemic problems at Boeing and the inadequate response from its primary safety regulator raise serious questions.

Despite some design flaws being minor and easy to fix, more serious and fundamental issues have also come to light regarding the Boeing 737 MAX. Furthermore, there are concerns that problems at Boeing go beyond just the MAX, affecting other aircraft models like the 787 Dreamliner, which previously faced grounding due to battery fires.

FAA Oversight Issues

The report distinctly states that the FAA has “failed to ensure the safety of the traveling public.” It raises concerns about cultural challenges within the FAA, highlighting excessive delegation to Boeing, conflicts of interest, and insufficient rigor in safety assessments. Therefore, there is a heightened need for a review of the FAA’s procedures.

Even so, current concerns about flight safety do not extend uniformly across other aircraft. While this might appear contradictory, it’s essential to recognize that multiple aviation regulators, including Europe’s EASA and others, are scrutinizing the 737 MAX and related Boeing issues more closely than ever before.

Conclusion

Having personally flown on the 737 MAX, I do not recommend it at this time. I am waiting for the approval of international regulators concerning the MAX and other Boeing aircraft before reconsidering any future flights.

John Walton is an international aviation journalist, follow him @thatjohn.