Boeing’s Troubled 737 Max Planes Trigger Trauma for Crash Victims’ Families
deadly crashes in five months
The Boeing 737 Max was once the company's best-selling plane, but it became a source of tragedy and controversy after two fatal crashes within five months in 2018 and 2019. The first crash occurred on October 29, 2018, when Lion Air Flight 610 plunged into the Java Sea shortly after taking off from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board.
The second crash happened on March 10, 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed near Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board.
Both crashes were linked to a faulty software system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which was designed to prevent the plane from stalling by automatically pushing the nose down.
However, the system was triggered by erroneous data from a single sensor, causing the pilots to lose control of the plane.
The system was also not adequately disclosed or explained to the pilots, who were not trained on how to override it.
The two crashes sparked a global outcry and a 20-month grounding of the 737 Max planes, as well as multiple investigations, lawsuits, and settlements.
Boeing faced accusations of putting profit over safety, concealing critical information from regulators and customers, and failing to ensure the quality and reliability of its products.
Boeing's attempts to restore trust and confidence
In January 2020, Boeing fired its CEO Dennis Muilenburg, who had been criticized for his handling of the crisis and his lack of accountability.
He was replaced by David Calhoun, who vowed to rebuild trust and transparency with all stakeholders. Boeing also made significant changes to the MCAS software, the plane's design, and the pilot training procedures, and cooperated with the authorities to address the safety issues and concerns.
In November 2020, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted the ban on the 737 Max, after certifying that the plane was safe to fly again.
Other countries, such as Brazil, Canada, and the UK, followed suit and allowed the plane to resume operations.
Boeing also resumed deliveries and orders of the 737 Max, and reported positive earnings in the first quarter of 2021, signaling a recovery from the pandemic-induced slump.
In January 2021, Boeing agreed to pay a $2.5 billion settlement to resolve a criminal charge by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that it had conspired to defraud the FAA by withholding information about the MCAS system. The settlement included a $244 million fine, a $500 million fund for the families of the crash victims, and a $1.77 billion compensation for the airlines that had been affected by the grounding.
Boeing admitted its wrongdoing and accepted responsibility for the crashes.
The lingering pain and anger of the families of the crash victims
However, for the families of the people who died in the two crashes, the settlement and the return of the 737 Max were not enough to heal their wounds and ease their anger.
Many of them felt that Boeing had not done enough to acknowledge its mistakes, apologize sincerely, or compensate them fairly.
They also feared that the 737 Max was still not safe enough and that another tragedy could happen again.
One of them was Neuis Marfuah, whose daughter, Vivian Hasna Afifa, was killed in the Lion Air crash.
She told Al Jazeera that the recent incident involving an Alaska Airlines 737 Max, which had to make an emergency landing due to an engine problem, triggered painful memories and anger for her.
She said that she felt betrayed by Boeing and that she wanted the company to be held accountable for its actions.
Another was Paul Njoroge, whose wife, three children, and mother-in-law were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash.
He told PBS that he felt that Boeing had not learned from its mistakes and that it was still putting profits over people.
He said that he wanted Boeing to be transparent about the flaws and failures of the 737 Max, and to ensure that the plane was truly safe before flying it again.
The families of the crash victims have also been seeking justice and closure through various legal avenues.
Some of them have filed lawsuits against Boeing, alleging negligence, fraud, and wrongful death.
Some of them have joined a class action lawsuit against the FAA, claiming that the agency had failed to oversee and regulate Boeing properly.
Some of them have also testified before the US Congress, calling for reforms and accountability in the aviation industry.
The families of the crash victims have also been honoring and remembering their loved ones through various initiatives and activities.
Some of them have set up foundations and charities in their names, to support causes and projects that they cared about. Some of them have organized memorials and events, to raise awareness and advocacy for aviation safety and justice.
Some of them have also shared their stories and emotions, to cope with their grief and trauma.
The families of the crash victims have also been supporting and comforting each other, forming a community of solidarity and compassion.
They have been communicating and connecting through social media, phone calls, and meetings.
They have been expressing and exchanging their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. They have been offering and receiving advice, help, and hope.
The families of the crash victims have also been living and moving on with their lives, despite the pain and loss. They have been working and studying, pursuing their goals and dreams.
They have been spending time and making memories with their friends and families, cherishing their relationships and bonds.
They have been finding and creating meaning and joy, in their own ways and in their own time.
The families of the crash victims have shown remarkable strength and resilience, in the face of tragedy and adversity.
They have also shown remarkable courage and determination, in the pursuit of truth and justice.
They have also shown remarkable love and grace, in the memory of their loved ones. They have not given up, and they have not been forgotten.
