View source for Reactions to the Boeing 737 MAX groundings

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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2020}}

[[File:Boeing 737 MAX grounded aircraft near Boeing Field, April 2019.jpg|thumb|A parking lot at [[Boeing Field]] in Seattle filled with [[Boeing 737 MAX groundings|grounded Boeing 737 MAX]] aircraft]]

{{737 MAX series}}

The two fatal [[Boeing]] 737 MAX crashes in October 2018 and March 2019 which were similar in nature{{snd}}both aircraft were newly delivered and crashed shortly after takeoff{{snd}}and the {{No selflink|Boeing 737 MAX groundings|subsequent groundings}} of the global 737 MAX fleet drew mixed reactions from multiple organizations. 
<section begin="summary" />
<!--CAAC-->
<!--Boeing-->
Boeing expressed its sympathy to the relatives of the [[Lion Air Flight 610]] and [[Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302]] crash victims, while simultaneously defending the aircraft against any faults and suggesting the pilots had insufficient training, until rebutted by evidence. After the 737 MAX fleet was globally grounded, starting in China with the [[Civil Aviation Administration of China]] the day after the second crash,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lahiri|first=Tripti|title=China is the first country to ground the Boeing 737 Max after its two crashes|url=https://qz.com/1569865/china-grounds-737-max-8-after-ethiopian-airlines-et-302-crash/|access-date=August 8, 2020|website=Quartz|date=March 11, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Boeing provided several outdated return-to-service timelines, the earliest of which was "in the coming weeks" after the second crash. On October 11, 2019, [[David L. Calhoun]] replaced [[Dennis Muilenburg]] as chairman of Boeing, then succeeded Muilenburg's role as chief executive officer in January 2020.

<!--Congress and courts-->
One year after the crashes, lawmakers demanded answers from then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg in a hearing on Capitol Hill. They questioned him about the discovered mistakes leading to the crashes and also about Boeing's subsequent cover-up efforts. One important line of enquiry was how Boeing "tricked" regulators into approving sub-standard pilot training materials, especially the deletion of mentioning the critical flight stabilization system [[Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System|MCAS]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/29/boeing-tells-lawmakers-that-safety-assessments-of-737-max-fell-short.html|title=In brutal Senate hearing, Boeing admits its safety assessments of 737 Max fell short|first=Leslie|last=Josephs|date=October 29, 2019|work=[[CNBC]]}}</ref> A Texas court ruled in October 2022 that the passengers killed in two 737 MAX crashes are legally considered "crime victims", which has consequences concerning possible remedies.

<!--Airbus-->
[[Airbus]] articulated that the crashes had been a tragedy and that it would never be good for any competitor to see a particular aircraft type having problems. Airbus reiterated that the 737 MAX grounding and backlog would not change the production volume of the competing Airbus A320neo family as these aircraft had already been sold out through 2025 and logistical and supplier capacities could not be easily enhanced short to medium term in this industry.

<!--Pilots and Flight crew-->
Pilots' and flight attendants' opinions were mixed, with some expressing confidence in the certification renewal, while others were increasingly disappointed that Boeing had knowingly concealed the existence and the risks of the newly introduced flight stabilization system [[Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System|MCAS]] to the 737 series as more and more internal information about the development and certification process came to light. Retired pilot [[Chesley Sullenberger]] criticized the aircraft design and certification processes and reasoned that relationship between the industry and its regulators had been too "cozy". <section end="summary" />

<!--Airlines-->
Most [[airlines]] sought compensation from Boeing to cover costs of the disruption and refrained from ordering new 737 MAX aircraft, while the [[International Airlines Group]] (IAG) announced at the June 2019 [[Paris Air Show]] it could order 200 jets but reduced this later to 50 firm orders until 2027.

<!--Public-->
Opinion polls{{fact|date=November 2024}} suggested that most passengers were reluctant to fly again aboard the 737 MAX should it be ungrounded.{{fact|date=November 2024}}

== Boeing ==
Boeing issued a brief statement after each crash, saying it was "deeply saddened" by the loss of life and offered its "heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones" of the passengers and crews. It said it was helping with the Lion Air investigation and sending a technical team to assist in the Ethiopia investigation.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130401 |title=Updated: Boeing Statement on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 |publisher=Boeing |date=March 10, 2019|access-date=March 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Boeing Statement on Lion Air Flight JT 610 Investigation |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130333 |publisher=Boeing |date=November 21, 2018|access-date=April 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsit.gr/kosmos/boeing-737-ayta-einai-ta-aitia-tis-tragodias-tis-lion-air/2899627/ |script-title=el:Boeing 737: Αυτά είναι τα αίτια της τραγωδίας της Lion Air|date=October 23, 2019|website=newsit.gr|language=el}}</ref> Boeing dedicated a fountain adjacent to its aviation museum on its corporate campus in memory of those on board the accident flights.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/28/our-daughter-died-vain-what-boeing-learns-plane-crashes/|title='Our daughter died in vain': What Boeing learns from plane crashes|last=MacMillan|first=Douglas|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=October 28, 2019}}</ref>

After the grounding, Boeing suspended 737 MAX deliveries to customers, but continued production at a rate of 52 aircraft per month.<ref name=":27">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airline-boeing-manufacturing-idUSKCN1QV31Z|title=Boeing prepares for MAX 737 jets sitting outside factory as deliveries halted|last1=Johnson |first1=Eric M. |date=March 14, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref> In mid-April, the production rate was reduced to 42 aircraft per month.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2019-04-05-Statement-from-Boeing-CEO-Dennis-Muilenburg-We-Own-Safety-737-MAX-Software-Production-and-Process-Update |title= Statement from Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg: We Own Safety – 737 MAX Software, Production and Process Update |date= April 5, 2019 |publisher= Boeing}}</ref> In May 2019, Boeing reported a 56% drop in plane deliveries year on year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-deliveries-idUSKCN1TC1Y3|title=Boeing May deliveries fall 56% as 737 MAX grounding continues to weigh|date=June 11, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=June 13, 2019}}</ref> In July 2019, after reporting its financial results, Boeing stated that it would consider further reducing or even shutting down production if the grounding lasts longer than expected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kuow.org/stories/boeing-may-shut-max-production-line-if-grounding-drags|title=Boeing may shut down 737 Max production line in Renton|date=July 24, 2019|website=kuow.org|access-date=July 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hemmerdinger |first1=Jon |title=Boeing warns of 737 production halt as grounding slams Q2 results |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-warns-of-737-production-halt-as-grounding-sla-459893/ |work=Flightglobal |date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> On December 15, the Boeing board considered a management proposal to suspend production for several months, until the MAX is cleared by the FAA to return to commercial service.<ref>{{cite news |title=Shutdown likely at Boeing Renton as 737 MAX crisis extends |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/shutdown-likely-at-boeing-renton-as-737-max-crisis-extends/ |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=December 15, 2019}}</ref> Production was suspended from January 2020, to prioritize the delivery of more than 400 new aircraft from storage bases.<ref>{{cite press release |url= https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2019-12-16-Boeing-Statement-Regarding-737-MAX-Production |title= Boeing Statement Regarding 737 MAX Production |date= December 16, 2019 |publisher= Boeing}}</ref><ref name="cnn-2020-01-21">{{cite news |title=Boeing has temporarily stopped making 737 Max airplanes |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/21/business/boeing-737-max-production-halt/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=January 21, 2020}}</ref> Boeing is unlikely to resume its pre-grounding production target of 57 aircraft per month until 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max-idUSKBN206291|title=Boeing unlikely to hit pre-grounding output targets for 737 MAX before 2022|date=February 12, 2020|work=Reuters|access-date=February 13, 2020}}</ref>

In April 2019, lawyers, analysts and experts criticized Muilenburg's delivery of Boeing's public statements as contradictory and unconvincing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-max-crisis-response-confusing-hard-to-trust-experts-2019-5|title=Boeing's response to the 737 Max crisis confused and frightened people, making it hard to believe its apologies, experts say|last=Baker|first=Sinéad|date=May 19, 2019|website=Business Insider}}</ref> They said Boeing refused to answer tough questions and accept responsibility, defended the airplane design and certification while "promising to fix the plane's software", delayed to ground planes and issue an apology, and yet was quick to assign blame towards pilot error.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/boeing-ceo-dennis-muilenburg-refuses-to-admit-flaws-in-737-max-8-aircraft/news-story/391433575d9985759c1197eecf9309be|title=Boeing's CEO has denied the MAX aircraft was rushed to market|date=April 29, 2019|website=[[News.com.au]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/facing-sharp-questions-boeing-ceo-refuses-to-admit-flaws-in-737-max-design/|title=Facing sharp questions, Boeing CEO refuses to admit flaws in 737 MAX design|last=Gates|first=Dominic|author-link=Dominic Gates|date=April 29, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> Muilenburg's handling of the 737 MAX crisis only added to the frustration between Boeing and its stakeholders, resulting in his removal from office in October 2019, as well as the retirement of Boeing's senior legal counsel, [[J. Michael Luttig]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/22/business/boeing-dennis-muilenburg-737-max.html|title=At Boeing, C.E.O.'s Stumbles Deepen a Crisis|last1=Kitroeff|first1=Natalie|date=December 22, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 23, 2019|last2=Gelles|first2=David|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/weve-been-humbled-boeings-ceo-struggles-to-contain-737-max-crisis-11577062371|title='We've Been Humbled': Boeing's CEO Struggles to Contain 737 MAX Crisis|last1=Tangel|first1=Andrew|date=December 23, 2019|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|access-date=December 23, 2019|last2=Sider|first2=Alison|issn=0099-9660|last3=Pasztor|first3=Andy|author-link3=Andy Pasztor|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/21/pressure-on-faa-to-approve-737-max-jets-backfires-for-boeing|title=Pressure on FAA to approve its 737 Max jets backfires for Boeing|last=West|first=Karl|date=December 21, 2019|work=The Observer|access-date=December 23, 2019|issn=0029-7712}}</ref>

=== Executive changes ===
On October 11, 2019, Boeing's board removed Dennis Muilenburg as chairman and replaced him with [[Dave Calhoun|David L. Calhoun]], a former boss of [[GE Aviation]]. Boeing had resisted earlier calls from shareholder activists to split the roles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/10/11/boeing-ceo-dennis-muilenburg-replaced-board-chair/|title=Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg replaced as board chair|last1=MacMillan|first1=Douglas|date=October 11, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|last2=Gregg|first2=Aaron}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/12/business/boeing-ceo-chairman-role-muilenburg/index.html|title=Boeing's board strips CEO of chairman role|last1=Cavaliere|first1=Victoria|last2=Isidore|first2=Chris|date=October 12, 2019|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/11/769633060/boeing-ceo-is-no-longer-also-chairman-as-company-board-wants-focus-on-737-fix|title=Boeing CEO Is No Longer Also Chairman As Company Board Wants Focus On 737 Fix|last=Schaper|first=David|access-date=October 13, 2019|publisher=[[NPR]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-14/boeing-ceo-dennis-muilenburg-737-max|title=Boeing CEO, removed as chairman, nears last chance on 737 Max|date=October 14, 2019|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 15, 2019}}</ref> Some critics of corporate governance have said that Calhoun is a prime example of "overboarding" due to his multiple positions held concurrently on many boards.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/boeing-board-of-directors-busy-elsewhere-737-max-crash/|title=Amid 737 Max disasters, Boeing's board was busy elsewhere|date=October 31, 2019 |publisher=CBS News|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> On December 23, 2019, the Boeing board had voted unanimously for David Calhoun to replace Dennis Muilenburg as chairman and president effective January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-ousts-ceo-dennis-muilenberg/|title=Boeing ousts CEO Dennis Muilenburg amid turmoil over 737 MAX|date=December 23, 2019|website=The Seattle Times|access-date=December 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/news/2019/12/23/boeing-737-max-fallout-ceo-muilenburg-out/2732575001/|title=Boeing 737 Max fallout: CEO Dennis Muilenburg out|last=Bacon|first=Dawn Gilbertson and John|access-date=December 23, 2019|website=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> Muilenburg reportedly departed Boeing with stock options and additional assets worth about $80&nbsp;million, but no severance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/10/business/boeing-ceo-muilenburg-severance/index.html|title=Ousted Boeing CEO exits with $80 million – but no severance|author=Chris Isidore|date=January 10, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/10/business/boeing-dennis-muilenburg-severance.html|title=Fired Boeing C.E.O. Muilenburg Will Get More Than $60 Million|last=Gelles|first=David|date=January 10, 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 11, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/dec/24/boeing-737-max-new-troubling-communications-faa|title=Boeing 737 Max: new 'troubling communications' sent to regulators|last=Helmore|first=Edward|date=December 24, 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=December 24, 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Congressman Peter DeFazio, Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, commented: "Based on what we've discovered so far in our investigation into the design, development and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX, it's clear Dennis Muilenburg's ouster was long overdue. Under his watch, a long-admired company made a number of devastating decisions that suggest profit took priority over safety. Furthermore, reports that Muilenburg attempted to pressure FAA into rushing the MAX back into service are highly troubling and I commend Administrator Dickson for making it known that FAA will take as much time as it needs to ensure safety comes first".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://defazio.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/chair-defazio-statement-on-dennis-muilenburg-s-departure-as-boeing-ceo|title=Chair DeFazio Statement on Dennis Muilenburg's Departure as Boeing CEO|date=December 23, 2019|website=Congressman Peter DeFazio|access-date=December 25, 2019}}</ref>

=== Other staff members ===
In July 2019, Boeing announced the retirement of 737 program leader Eric Lindblad, the second person to depart that post in two years. He held the job less than a year, but was not involved in development of the MAX. His predecessor, Scott Campbell, retired in August 2018, amid late deliveries of 737 MAX engines and other components. Lindblad assumed the role shortly before the program became embattled in two accidents and ongoing groundings. He will be succeeded by Mark Jenks, vice president of the [[Boeing New Midsize Airplane]] program and previously in charge of the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielreed/2019/07/11/boeings-troubled-max--jet-program-gets-a-2nd-new-leader-in-a-year-while-consumers-file-suit-accusing-it-and-southwest-airlines-of-conspiring-to-hide-the-maxs-faults-fromtravelers/|title=Troubled 737 MAX Program Gets 2nd New Leader In A Year While Flyers File Suit Accusing Boeing, Southwest Of Conspiring To Hide Plane's Faults From Travelers|last=Reed|first=Dan|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=July 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/737-max-chief-to-retire-nma-vp-to-take-over-459622/|title=737 Max chief to retire; NMA VP to take over|last=Chua|first=Alfred|date=July 12, 2019|work=Flightglobal}}</ref>{{Relevance inline|date=July 2019|discuss=Retirement of program manager}}

On October 22, Boeing named Stan Deal to succeed Kevin McAllister, who has faced a number of problems beyond the MAX crisis during his three years as president and chief executive of Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/22/reuters-america-update-1-boeing-replaces-senior-executive-as-737-max-crisis-grows.html|title=UPDATE 1-Boeing replaces senior executive as 737 MAX crisis grows|last=Shepardson|first=Eric M. Johnson and David|date=October 22, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.airlineratings.com/news/|title=MAX crisis sees Boeing oust head of commercial airplanes|last=Creedy|first=Steve|date=October 22, 2019|website=Airline Ratings|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref>

On December 4, 2019, Boeing Commercial Airplanes announced the retirement of its chief engineer John Hamilton, age 58, who had been appointed as the leader of Boeing's response to the crashes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-chief-engineer-at-center-of-737-max-crisis-retires/|title=Boeing chief engineer at center of 737 MAX crisis retires|date=December 4, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>

On December 26, 2019, Boeing announced that [[J. Michael Luttig]], a senior adviser to Boeing's board of directors and former general counsel for the company, is retiring at the end of 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/boeing-senior-legal-counsel-luttig-to-retire-as-executive-shakeup-continues/135939.article|title=Boeing senior legal counsel Luttig to resign as executive shakeup continues|date=December 27, 2019|website=Flightglobal|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>
He was one of the highest paid general counsels of publicly traded companies; he helped to establish Boeing's defense over the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/26/boeing-737-max-crisis-adviser-michael-luttig-to-retire.html|title=Boeing 737 Max crisis adviser Michael Luttig to retire|date=December 26, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>

=== Investigation feedback ===
Between the Ethiopian accident and US groundings, Boeing stated that upgrades to the [[Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System]] (MCAS) flight control software, cockpit displays, operation manuals and crew training were underway due to findings from the Lion Air crash.

As non-U.S. countries and airlines began grounding the 737 MAX, Boeing stated: "at this point, based on the information available, we do not have any basis to issue new guidance to operators."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash/h_001098b42b842872e7b28da4959f9b61|title=Boeing says it has no plans to issue new guidance|date=March 11, 2019|access-date=March 11, 2019|publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Boeing said "in light of" the Ethiopian Airlines crash, the company would privatize<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-quietly-unveiled-777x-replace-747-jumbo-jet-2019-3/|title=Boeing Quietly Unveiled the 777X that would replace the 747 jumbo jet|last=Zhang|first=Benjamin|date=March 21, 2019|website=Business Insider|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> the roll-out ceremony for the first completed [[Boeing 777X]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-to-delay-777x-rollout-after-ethiopian-crash-456497/|title=Boeing to delay 777X rollout after Ethiopian crash|last=Waldron|first=Greg|date=March 11, 2019|work=Flightglobal|access-date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>

When the FAA grounded the MAX aircraft on March 13, Boeing stated it "continues to have full confidence in the safety of the 737 MAX. However, after consultation with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and aviation authorities and its customers around the world, Boeing has determined{{snd}}out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft's safety{{snd}}to recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 737 MAX aircraft."<ref name=":7">{{cite press release|url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130404|title=In Consultation with the FAA, NTSB and its Customers, Boeing Supports Action to Temporarily Ground 737 MAX Operations|publisher=Boeing|date=March 13, 2019|access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref>

Boeing anticipated software deployment before April, and said the upgrade would be made mandatory by an FAA [[Airworthiness Directive]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Toh |first1=Mavis |title=Boeing to upgrade 737 Max flight control software |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-to-upgrade-737-max-flight-control-software-456540/ |work=[[Flightglobal]] |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> The FAA stated it anticipated clearing the software update by March 25, 2019, allowing Boeing to distribute it to the grounded fleets.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/15/boeing-shares-rise-on-report-that-company-will-roll-out-software-upgrade-for-737-max-in-10-days.html |title= The FAA set to sign off on Boeing 737 Max software fix in 10 days, shares rise |first1= Leslie |last1= Josephs |first2= Kate |last2= Rooney |date= March 15, 2019 |publisher= [[CNBC]] |access-date= March 15, 2019}}</ref> On April 1, the FAA announced the software upgrade was delayed because more work was necessary.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Sean |title=Boeing delays 737 MAX software fix delivery |url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/04/boeing-delays-737-max-software-fix-delivery/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=April 29, 2019 |date=April 2, 2019}}</ref>

On March 14, Boeing reiterated that pilots can always use [[#Runaway stabilizer and manual trim|manual trim control]] to override software commands, and that both its Flight Crew Operations Manual and November 6 bulletin offer detailed procedures for handling incorrect angle-of-attack readings.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Boeing Statement on 737 MAX Software Enhancement |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130402 |publisher=Boeing |date=March 13, 2019 |access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/the-boeing-737-max-8-aircraft-runaway-stabilizer-checklist/2b14d1c4-bace-48f2-994b-cb1a75f860c5_note.html|title=Federal lawsuit against Boeing on behalf of Indonesia plane crash victims|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

On April 4, 2019, Boeing CEO [[Dennis Muilenburg]] acknowledged that MCAS played a role in both crashes. His comments came in response to public release of preliminary results of the Ethiopian Airlines accident investigation, which suggested pilots performed the recovery procedure. Muilenburg stated it was "apparent that in both flights" MCAS activated due to "erroneous angle of attack information". He said the MCAS software update and additional training and information for pilots would "eliminate the possibility of unintended MCAS activation and prevent an MCAS-related accident from ever happening again".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/04/boeing-ceo-dennis-muilenburg-apologizes-lives-lost-ethiopian-indonesian-plane-crashes/|title=Boeing CEO apologizes for lives lost and acknowledges role of company's flight-control system in two crashes|last1=Gregg|first1=Aaron|date=April 4, 2019|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Boeing reported that 96 test flights were flown with the updated software.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/11/boeing-ceo-says-its-completed-96-test-flights-with-737-max-software-fix.html|title=Boeing CEO says it's completed 96 test flights with 737 Max software fix|last1=LeBeau|first1=Phil |last2=Newburger |first2= Emma|date=April 11, 2019|publisher= [[CNBC]]|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/business/boeing-software-dennis-muilenburg/index.html|title=Boeing CEO says new software update has been tested by most 737 Max customers|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|date=April 11, 2019 |publisher=[[CNN]] Business|access-date=April 11, 2019}}</ref>

In an [[earnings call]] that took place on April 24, 2019, Muilenburg said the aircraft was properly designed and certificated, and denied that any "technical slip or gap" existed. He said there were "actions or actions not taken that contributed to the final outcome".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Frost |first1=Natasha |title=Boeing says there was "no technical slip or gap" in the 737 Max |url=https://qz.com/1603726/boeing-says-there-was-no-technical-slip-or-gap-in-the-737-max/ |website=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |access-date=May 5, 2019 |date=April 24, 2019}}</ref> On April 29, he claimed that the pilots did not "completely" follow the procedures that Boeing had outlined. He said Boeing was working to make the airplane even safer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/29/investing/boeing-annual-meeting/index.html|title=Boeing CEO says 737 Max was designed properly and pilots did not 'completely' follow procedure|last=Isidore|first=Chris|date=April 29, 2019 |publisher=[[CNN]] Business|access-date=April 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Zhang |first1=Benjamin |title=Boeing's CEO explains why the company didn't tell 737 Max pilots about the software system that contributed to 2 fatal crashes |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/boeings-ceo-on-why-737-max-pilots-not-told-of-mcas-2019-4 |website=Business Insider |access-date=April 30, 2019|date=April 29, 2019 }}</ref>

On August 4, 2019, Boeing stated they conducted around 500 test flights with updated software,<ref>{{cite news |last=Wu |first=Jasmine |title=Boeing conducts 500 test flights of troubled 737 Max jets in bid to restore trust following crashes |publisher=CNBC |date=August 5, 2019 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/05/boeing-conducts-500-test-flights-of-troubled-737-max-to-restore-trust.html |access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref> and ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'' reported that one test flight involved multiple altitude changes.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=A Boeing 737 MAX Test Flight Had Its Ups and Downs |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=August 6, 2019 |url=https://www.wired.com/story/boeing-737-max-test-flight-ups-and-downs/ |access-date=August 7, 2019}}</ref>

On October 20, 2019, in response to harsh reactions to the publication of Forkner's controversial messages about MCAS simulation during development, Boeing issued a statement about misinterpretations and how it informed the FAA of the expansion of MCAS to low speeds.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130533|title=Boeing Statement Relating to Recently Released Nov. 15, 2016 Instant Message|date=October 20, 2019|publisher=Boeing|access-date=October 21, 2019}}</ref> On December 26, 2019, after the dismissal of [[Dennis Muilenburg]], Boeing turned over to the FAA a new set of "disturbing" <!-- as per source --> messages written in part by Forkner regarding MCAS development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/2019/12/26/boeing-737-max-faa-messages/|title=Boeing Discloses 'Very Disturbing' Messages on Max to FAA|website=Fortune|access-date=December 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/more-troubling-internal-boeing-documents-on-737-max-set-for-release/|title=More 'troubling' internal Boeing 737 MAX documents released to FAA|date=December 23, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=December 29, 2019}}</ref> On January 9, 2020, Boeing released the conversation details to the House Transportation Committee, stating that it "regret[s] the content of these communications, and apologize to the [Federal Aviation Administration], Congress, our airline customers, and to the flying public for them."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/09/business/boeing-documents/index.html|title=Boeing releases flood of troubling internal documents related to 737 Max|author=Chris Isidore|date=January 10, 2020 |publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>

The House Transportation Committee published a summary of its findings on March 6, 2020. It identified a "culture of concealment" at Boeing and a weak regulatory environment as factors which contributed to the crashes. It acknowledged a wider range of contributory causes, but focused on the MCAS. Boeing's not classifying this as "safety critical", part of its efforts to avoid regulatory oversight and investigation, demonstrated inappropriate influence by Boeing over the FAA, which had then overruled safety concerns flagged by its own experts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/boeing-737-max-crash-trump-congress-probe-a9384151.html|title='Culture of concealment' at Boeing led to fatal 737 Max crashes, Congress reports|date=March 6, 2020|website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/06/boeing-culture-concealment-fatal-737-max-crashes-report|title=Boeing's 'culture of concealment' led to fatal 737 Max crashes, report finds|first=Dominic|last=Rushe|date=March 6, 2020|work=The Guardian}}</ref>

At the same time, the Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau published a summary of initial conclusions from its own investigation, which suggested that the plane design was the cause of the crashes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-07/boeing-set-to-get-blame-in-ethiopian-report-on-crash-of-737-max |title=Boeing Set to Get Blame in Ethiopian Report on Crash of 737 Max |first=Alan |last=Levin |date= March 7, 2020 |access-date=March 7, 2020 |publisher=Bloomberg L.P.}}</ref>

[[Stephen Dickson (executive)|FAA Administrator Dickson]] defended the omission of MCAS: "The FAA therefore decided to remove the MCAS reference from the draft AD so that flight crews would focus on runaway stabilizer recognition instead of attempting to troubleshoot MCAS".<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2020|title=Final Committee Report on the Design, Development, and Certification of the Boeing 737 MAX|url=https://transportation.house.gov/download/20200915-final-737-max-report-for-public-release|publisher=[[Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]|page=199 (pdf: 206)|language=en|access-date=January 6, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108205543/https://transportation.house.gov/download/20200915-final-737-max-report-for-public-release|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The [[Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]] report cited the strong disagreement of Dr. [[Mica Endsley]], a senior officer at the [[Human Factors and Ergonomics Society]] and a former Chief Scientist of the [[U.S. Air Force]], who testified that when MCAS is triggered by incorrect sensor data, the pilot cues are "significantly different than the cues received with a runaway stabilizer trim".<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2020|title=Final Committee Report on the Design, Development, and Certification of the Boeing 737 MAX|url=https://transportation.house.gov/download/20200915-final-737-max-report-for-public-release|publisher=[[Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure]]|page=200 (pdf: 207)|language=en|access-date=January 6, 2021|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108205543/https://transportation.house.gov/download/20200915-final-737-max-report-for-public-release|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Corporate structure and new safety practices ===
Following panel review recommendations, Boeing has strengthened its engineering oversight. As of August 2019, Muilenburg receives weekly reports of potential safety issues from rank-and-file engineers{{snd}}thousands will report to chief engineers rather than to separate programs, helping them reach senior management more effectively.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-safety-focus-idUSKCN1VK122|title=Boeing aims to strengthen engineering oversight after panel review|date=August 30, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=August 30, 2019}}</ref>

In September 2019, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that Boeing board will call for structural changes after the 737 MAX crashes: changing corporate reporting structures, a new safety group, future plane cockpits designed for new pilots with less training. The committee, established in April, did not investigate the Max crashes, but produced the first findings for a reform of Boeing's internal structures since then. It will recommend that engineers report to the chief engineer rather than business management, to avoid pressure from business leaders against engineers who identify safety issues. The committee found that inter-group communication was lacking within engineering and between the Seattle offices and corporate headquarters during the certification work. The safety group will ensure information is shared and the certification work is independent. The group will report to senior leadership and a new permanent committee on the board.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/15/business/boeing-safety-737-max.html|title=Boeing Board to Call for Safety Changes After 737 Max Crashes|first1=David |last1=Gelles |first2=Natalie |last2=Kitroeff|date=September 15, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=September 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/15/boeing-board-to-call-for-structural-changes-after-737-max-crashes-nyt.html|title=Boeing board will reportedly call for structural changes after 737 Max crashes|last=Kimball|first=Spencer|date=September 15, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=September 16, 2019}}</ref>

The board said in September that Boeing should also work with airlines to "re-examine assumptions around flight deck design and operation" and recommend pilot training criteria beyond traditional training programs "where warranted".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-safety-idUSKBN1WA1L8|title=Boeing to bolster engineering oversight in response to 737 MAX crashes|date=September 25, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>

=== Current and former employees ===
In May 2019, engineers said that Boeing pushed to limit safety testing to accelerate planes certification, including 737 MAX.<ref name=":15">{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/engineers-say-boeing-pushed-to-limit-safety-testing-in-race-to-certify-planes-including-737-max/|title=Engineers say Boeing pushed to limit safety testing in race to certify planes, including 737 MAX|date=May 5, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=July 23, 2019|first2=Mike |last2=Baker |first1=Dominic |last1=Gates}}</ref> FAA said it has "received no whistleblower complaints or any other reports ... alleging pressure to speed up 737 MAX certification." Former engineers at Boeing blamed company executives of cost-cutting, over more than a decade, yielding to low morale and reduced engineering staffing, which "they argue contributed to two recent deadly crashes involving Boeing 737 Max jets."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/442959-ex-boeing-engineers-allege-companys-cost-cutting-efforts-jeopardized|title=Ex-Boeing engineers allege company's cost-cutting efforts jeopardized safety|last=Bowden|first=John|date=May 9, 2019|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref>

In June 2019, Boeing's software development practices came under criticism from current and former engineers. Software development work for the MAX was reportedly complicated by Boeing's decision to outsource work to lower-paid contractors though these contractors did not work on MCAS or the AoA disagree alert. Management pressure to limit changes that might introduce extra time or cost was also highlighted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Robison |first1=Peter |title=Boeing's 737 Max Software Outsourced to $9-an-Hour Engineers |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-28/boeing-s-737-max-software-outsourced-to-9-an-hour-engineers |work=Bloomberg News |date=June 30, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inteqgroup.com/blog/boeing-737-max-mcas-software-epiphany|title=My Boeing 737 Max MCAS Software Epiphany|last=Proctor|first=James|website=inteqgroup.com|access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>

In December 2019, former Boeing manager Ed Pierson testified to Congress that he had previously alerted the Boeing leadership before the second crash that the 737 Max factory was unsafe.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Gelles|first=David|date=2019-12-09|title=Boeing 737 Max Factory Was Plagued With Problems, Whistle-Blower Says (Published 2019)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/business/boeing-737-max-whistleblower.html|access-date=2020-12-14|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He did not report concerns about MCAS, but rather an unsafe working environment and a workforce that was critically overworked that could lead to critical mistakes. According to Pierson, Boeing had ramped up monthly production to the point where some employees were working seven days a week for weeks on end. This harried process led to parts being installed out of sequence and debris being left in aircraft. This increased risk for human error became so apparent that Pierson sent an email to the chief of the 737 program stating "for the first time in my life, I'm sorry to say that I'm hesitant about putting my family on a Boeing airplane." The day before Pierson testified, NBC Nightly News aired an interview with Pierson revealing the whistleblower's repeated attempts to contact Boeing executives and the FAA.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Former Boeing manager says he warned company of problems prior to 737 crashes|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-boeing-manager-says-he-warned-company-problems-prior-737-n1098536|access-date=2020-12-14|website=NBC News|date=December 9, 2019 |language=en}}</ref> 
In January 2021, Pierson raised further safety concerns and published a new report in which he claims that quality problems at the Renton plant and electrical issues have not been satisfactorily investigated.<ref>{{cite news |title=Boeing 737 Max cleared to fly again 'too early' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55751150 |work=BBC News |date=January 25, 2021}}</ref>

Boeing's former Chief Technical pilot Mark Forkner has invoked the [[Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fifth Amendment]] right against self-incrimination, to avoid submitting documents to federal prosecutors investigating the crashes.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/former-boeing-official-subpoenaed-in-737-max-probe-wont-turn-over-documents-citing-fifth-amendment-protection/|title=Former Boeing official subpoenaed in 737 MAX probe won't turn over documents, citing Fifth Amendment protection|date=September 6, 2019|first=Steve |last=Miletich|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=September 7, 2019}}</ref> He managed pilots in the Flight Technical and Safety group within Boeing's customer services division.<ref name=":46">{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/simulator-software-not-737-maxs-flight-control-system-likely-caused-erratic-behavior-cited-in-pilot-messages/|title=Boeing's defense of 737 MAX's flight-control system in wake of pilot messages stands up|date=October 21, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]|access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref> On October 17, Boeing turned over some 10 pages of Forkner's correspondence showing concern with MCAS in simulator sessions in 2016. The next day, FAA Administrator Dickson, in a strongly worded letter, ordered Muilenburg to give an "immediate" explanation for delaying disclosure of these documents for months.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Boeing 2016 internal messages suggest employees may have misled FAA on 737 MAX - sources |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/idINKBN1WX268 |date= October 18, 2019 |work=Reuters |author= David Shepardson}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Gates|first=Dominic|date=October 22, 2019|title=Boeing's defense of 737 MAX's flight-control system in wake of pilot messages stands up|work=[[The Seattle Times]]|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/simulator-software-not-737-maxs-flight-control-system-likely-caused-erratic-behavior-cited-in-pilot-messages/}}</ref>{{update inline|reason=What explanation was given?|date=January 2021}}

==Airbus==
In May 2019, executives of Airbus told reporters they do not view the relationship between [[Boeing]] and the FAA as having been corrupted. They compared the EASA and the FAA, saying "EASA has a slightly different mandate than the FAA. EASA is a purely safety orientated agency."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2019/05/21/airbus-cautious-on-regulator-and-safety-questions-following-boeing-737-max-troubles/|title=Airbus Cautious On Regulator And Safety Questions Following Boeing 737 MAX Troubles|first=Marisa|last=Garcia|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> Airbus Chief Commercial Officer Christian Scherer did not feel the 737 MAX is a variant that has stretched the original 737 too far: "The MAX is not one stretch too many, in my humble opinion". Airbus leader Remi Maillard stated: "We work hand in hand with the regulators, and with the OEMs to adopt the safety standards. But, to be clear, our internal safety standards are even more stringent than what is required by the regulators". Scherer remarked on the way manufacturers can learn from accidents: "Whenever there is an accident out there, the first question that gets asked in an Airbus management meeting is: can we learn from it?"<!-- April -->

On April 30, 2019, Airbus CEO [[Guillaume Faury]] said the 737 MAX grounding "is not changing the mid- to long-term picture" as "[Airbus is] limited by the [[supply chain]]": it should reach a monthly A320 production rate of 60 by mid-2019 before 63 in 2021 while Boeing reduced MAX monthly output to 42 from 52.<ref>{{Cite news |url= https://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/faury-airbus-sees-no-benefit-boeing-max-crisis |title= Faury: Airbus Sees No Benefit From Boeing MAX Crisis |date= April 30, 2019 |first= Jens |last= Flottau |publisher=Aviation Week Network}}</ref>

On November 17, 2019, at the [[Dubai Air Show]], Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, [[Christian Scherer]], firmly rejected the notion that Airbus was benefiting from the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX. Speaking to CNBC, he said, "I really need to correct that cultural belief. This does not benefit anyone in this industry, the least of which would be Airbus. It's a tragedy, it is an issue for Boeing to resolve, but it is not good for competitors to see problems on any one particular airplane type."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/17/airbus-cco-christian-scherer-boeings-737-max-grounding-benefits-no-one.html|title=Airbus exec: Boeing's 737 Max grounding benefits no one|first= Natasha |last= Turak|date=November 17, 2019|publisher=[[CNBC]]|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:AIB A320neo F-WNEW 27may15 LFBO-2.jpg|thumb|Airbus A320neo prototype with [[CFM International LEAP|CFM LEAP-1A engines]]]]
The 737 MAX's primary competitor is Airbus's bestseller aircraft, the [[A320neo]]. The A320neo continued to win orders in the wake of the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, booking over {{US$|11{{nbsp}}billion}} in orders,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://interestingengineering.com/airbus-capitalizes-on-boeing-737-max-8-woes-beats-out-rival-for-100-plane-order|title=Boeing's Pain is Airbus' Gain as the European firm Beats Out Its Arch-Rival to Land a Major 100-Plane Order|date=June 17, 2019|website=interestingengineering.com|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> with additional orders from airlines that are either canceling their 737 MAX orders altogether, or reducing quantities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/merve.kara/22813-flyadeal-drops-6b-worth-boeing-737-max-order-for-airbus|title=Flyadeal drops $6B worth Boeing 737 MAX order for Airbus|website=aerotime.aero|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> However, Airbus cannot take advantage of the situation because the [[A320]]'s production slots are limited.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/as-boeing-halts-737-max-output-airbus-cant-build-jets-fast-enough/|title=As Boeing halts 737 MAX output, Airbus can't build jets fast enough|date=December 17, 2019|website=[[The Seattle Times]]}}</ref> The Airbus A320's backlog is sold out through 2025.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Foy|first=Simon|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2020/02/13/airbus-sees-no-short-term-benefit-boeing-737-max-grounding/|title=Airbus fails to capitalise on Boeing 737 Max grounding|date=February 13, 2020|work=The Telegraph|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

Deliveries for the A320 family and the B737 series have been as follows:
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{{GraphChart|width=600|height=200|yGrid=
|type=line
|xAxisTitle=Year
|x=1988,1989,1990,1991,1992,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2009,2010,2011,2012,2013,2014,2015,2016,2017,2018,2019,2020,2021
|yAxisTitle=Deliveries
|y1Title=Airbus A320 family
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|y2Title=Boeing 737 series
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* {{legend|green|[[Airbus A320 family#Orders and deliveries|Airbus A320 family deliveries]]<ref name="Airbus_Hist_OD">{{cite web |url=http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/reports_results_reviews/Summary_Historial_Orders_Deliveries_1974-2009.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223185526/http://www.airbus.com/fileadmin/media_gallery/files/reports_results_reviews/Summary_Historial_Orders_Deliveries_1974-2009.xls |archive-date=December 23, 2010 |title =  Historical Orders and Deliveries 1974–2009 |work=[[Airbus|Airbus S.A.S.]] |date=January 2010 |format=Microsoft Excel |access-date=10 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Airbus_O_D">{{Cite web |url=https://www.airbus.com/aircraft/market/orders-deliveries.html |title=Airbus O&D |publisher=[[Airbus|Airbus S.A.S.]] |date=31 December 2020 |access-date= 8 January 2021}}</ref>}}
* {{legend|blue|[[Boeing 737#Orders and deliveries|Boeing 737 series deliveries]]<ref name="Boeing_Hist_Deliveries">{{cite web |url=http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?&optReportType=HistAnnDel |title= Historical Deliveries |publisher=[[Boeing]] |date= December 2015 |access-date=February 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226093221/http://active.boeing.com/commercial/orders/displaystandardreport.cfm?&optReportType=HistAnnDel|archive-date=February 26, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.boeing.com/company/about-bca/#/market |title=Boeing: About Boeing Commercial Airplanes |publisher=[[Boeing]] |date=31 December 2020 |access-date= 13 January 2021}}</ref>}}
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<noinclude>

The A320neo and the 737 MAX both use engines from the [[CFM LEAP]] family, with different thrust requirements. After EASA issued an [[airworthiness directive]] regarding potential excess pitch during specific maneuvers, Airbus made a preemptive change to the A320neo flight manual to protect the aircraft in such situations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/business/airbus-issues-pre-emptive-safety-orders-on-a320neos-to-avoid-boeing-737-max-situation-7125491.html|title=Airbus issues pre-emptive safety orders on A320neos to avoid Boeing 737 MAX situation|website=Firstpost|date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref> In response to the EASA recommendations, Lufthansa temporarily blocked the rearmost row of seats until a flight computer update increases the effectiveness of the aircraft's AoA protection.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

== Flight crew ==
U.S. labor unions representing pilots and flight attendants had different opinions on whether or not to ground the aircraft. Two flight attendant unions, [[Association of Flight Attendants|AFA]] and the [[Association of Professional Flight Attendants|APFA]], favored groundings,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bartiromo |first1=Michael |title=Flight attendants' unions urge US carriers to ground Boeing 737 Max 8 aircrafts {{sic|nolink=y}}|url=https://www.foxnews.com/travel/flight-attendants-unions-urge-us-carriers-to-ground-boeing-737-max-8-aircrafts |publisher=[[Fox News Channel]] |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> while pilot unions such as the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-12/largest-flight-attendant-unions-back-grounding-of-boeing-737-max |title=Largest Flight Attendant Unions Back Grounding of Boeing 737 Max |date=March 12, 2019 |publisher=Bloomberg News}}</ref> [[Allied Pilots Association|APA]], and [[Air Line Pilots Association|ALPA]], expressed confidence in continued operation of the aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/13/us-pilots-confident-in-boeing-737-max-planes-following-second-crash.html |title=US pilots confident in the Boeing 737 Max planes following second fatal crash in 5 months |last=Josephs |first=Leslie |date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=CNBC}}</ref>

=== Cockpit crew ===
In a private meeting on November 27, 2018, [[American Airlines]] pilots pressed Boeing managers to develop an urgent fix for MCAS and suggested that the FAA require a safety review which in turn could have grounded the airplanes.<ref name="NYTmeet">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/business/boeing-737-max-ethiopian-plane-crash.html |title=Before Ethiopian Crash, Boeing Resisted Pilots' Calls for Aggressive Steps on 737 Max |last1=Gelles |first1=David |date=May 14, 2019 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=May 14, 2019 |last2=Kitroeff |first2=Natalie}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aviationtoday.com/2018/11/07/faa-issues-boeing-737-aoa-directive-amid-lion-air-crash/ |title=FAA Issues Boeing 737 AOA Directive After Lion Air Crash |date=November 7, 2018 |publisher=Avionics |access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> A recording of the meeting revealed pilots' anger that they were not informed about MCAS. One pilot was heard saying, "We flat out deserve to know what is on our airplanes."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/airlines/2019/05/13/newly-surfaced-recording-details-pilots-pressed-boeing-after-lion-air-crash-requested-faa-records |title=Newly surfaced recording details how pilots pressed Boeing after Lion Air crash, requested FAA records |last1=DiFurio |first1=Dom |date=May 13, 2019 |work=[[Dallas News]] |access-date=May 13, 2019 |last2=Aspinwall |first2=Cary}}</ref> Another US pilot asked for more training prior to his first flight on the 737 MAX several months before the first crash of Lion Air Flight 610.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1584233/boeing-737-max-what-happened-when-one-us-pilot-asked-for-more-training/|title=What happened when one US pilot asked for more training before flying the 737 Max|last=Lahiri|first=Tripti|website=Quartz|date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> Afterwards, in June 2019, the American Airlines pilot union openly criticized Boeing for not fully explaining the existence or operation of MCAS: "However, at APA we remained concerned about whether the new training protocol, materials and method of instruction suggested by Boeing are adequate to ensure that pilots across the globe flying the MAX fleet can do so in absolute complete safety".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/06/18/american-airlines-pilots-union-concerned-about-boeing-737-max-training.html|title=American Airlines' pilots union 'concerned' about fixes for Boeing 737 Max after crashes|first=Leslie|last=Josephs|date=June 18, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> Boeing vice president Mike Sinnett explained that the company did not want to make changes in a rush, because of uncertainty whether the Lion Air accident was related to MCAS. Sinnett said Boeing expected pilots to be able to handle any control problems.<ref name="NYTmeet"/>

The U.S. [[Aviation Safety Reporting System]] received messages about the 737 MAX from U.S. pilots in November 2018, including one from a captain who expressed concern that systems such as the MCAS are not fully described in the [[aircraft flight manual]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/0cd5389261f34b01a7cbdb1a12421e27 |title=Pilots have reported issues in US with new Boeing jet |first1=David |last1=Koenig |first2=Michael |last2=Sisak |date=March 13, 2019 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] (AP) |access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fallows |first1=James |title=Here's What Was on the Record About Problems With the 737 Max |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2019/03/heres-what-was-on-the-record-about-problems-with-the-737-max/584791/ |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=March 13, 2019 |access-date=March 18, 2019}}</ref> Captain Mike Michaelis, chairman of the safety committee of the Allied Pilots Association at American Airlines said "It's pretty asinine for them to put a system on an airplane and not tell the pilots … especially when it deals with flight controls".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-boeing-737-max-lion-20181114-story.html|title=Why did a Boeing 737 Max aircraft plunge into the Java Sea?|last=Board|department=Editorial|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref>

U.S. pilots also complained about the way the 737 MAX performed, including claims of problems similar to those reported about the Lion Air crash.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Thom |last2=Cooper |first2=Aaron |title=Pilots complained about the 737 Max in a federal database |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/13/us/pilot-complaints-boeing-737-max/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=March 13, 2019 |access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> Pilots of at least two U.S. flights in 2018, reported the nose of the 737 MAX pitched down suddenly when they engaged the autopilot.<ref name="graun13mr">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/13/ethiopian-airlines-pilot-reported-flight-control-problems-before-crash |title=Ethiopian Airlines pilot 'reported flight control problems before crash' |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=March 13, 2019 |first=Gwyn |last=Topham |access-date=March 13, 2019}}</ref> The FAA stated in response that "Some of the reports reference possible issues with the autopilot/autothrottle, which is a separate system from MCAS, and/or acknowledge the problems could have been due to pilot error."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/new-software-in-boeing-737-max-planes-under-scrutinty-after-second-crash/2019/03/13/06716fda-45c7-11e9-90f0-0ccfeec87a61_story.html |title=At tense meeting with Boeing executives, pilots fumed about being left in dark on plane software |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=March 13, 2019 |last1=Gregg |first1=Aaron |last2=O'Connell |first2=Jonathan |last3=Ba Tran |first3=Andrew |last4=Siddiqui |first4=Faiz |access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref>

On October 7, 2019, Southwest Airlines pilots sued Boeing declaring that Boeing misled the pilot union about the plane adding that the planes' grounding cost its pilots more than $100{{nbsp}}million in lost income, which Southwest labor union wants Boeing to pay.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Josephs |first1=Leslie |title=Southwest Airlines pilots sue Boeing over 737 Max grounding |date=October 7, 2019 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/07/southwest-airlines-pilots-sue-boeing-over-737-max-grounding.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref> The head of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA), Jon Weaks, said in a note to pilots on November 13, 2019, that "Boeing is increasingly publicizing that they may have to shut down their production line due to running out of room to store completed MAX aircraft. There is some concern that this is simply another tactic to push the (return to service) timeline up."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepardson |first1=David |title=Southwest pilots union says Boeing may be trying to hasten 737 MAX return |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-airplane/southwest-pilots-union-says-boeing-may-be-trying-to-hasten-737-max-return-idUSKBN1XO0EM |work=Reuters |date=November 14, 2019 |access-date=November 14, 2019}}</ref>

=== Cabin crew ===
In a letter dated October 30, 2019, to Boeing's CEO, American Airlines' Association of Professional Flight Attendants President Lori Bassani wrote: "The 28,000 flight attendants working for American Airlines refuse to walk onto a plane that may not be safe and are calling for the highest possible safety standards to avoid another tragedy." She also met with dozens of elected officials in Washington after the congressional testimony of Boeing's CEO.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max-american-airline-unions-idUSKBN1XA2JO|title=American Airlines flight attendants stand up to Boeing CEO on 737 MAX|work=Reuters|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>

Flight crew unions at Air Canada, Sunwing and WestJet support the American flight attendant unions who expressed safety concerns about the MAX return. Sections of the [[Canadian Union of Public Employees]] called on [[Transport Canada Civil Aviation|Transport Canada]] to take its responsibility in ensuring a safe return of these planes in the air.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skiesmag.com/press-releases/transport-canada-will-have-to-demonstrate-that-the-boeing-737-max-are-safe-to-fly/|title=Transport Canada will have to demonstrate that the Boeing 737 Max are safe to fly|last=Release|first=CUPE Press|website=Skies Mag|access-date=November 5, 2019}}</ref>

In November, the president of the [[Association of Flight Attendants-CWA]], which represents employees at [[United Airlines Holdings]], said: "We're not good with that, … If we're not confident it's safe, we're not going to work it and the planes don't fly. We've been clear with the FAA, the airlines and with Boeing that we need to see that – we need to see EASA, Canada, Australia, on board. We need all these assurances because there was a break in public trust here." The AFA-CWA represents 50,000 flight attendants at 20 carriers, including [[United Airlines]] and [[Alaska Air Group]].<ref>{{cite news | last=Sider | first=Alison | title=Flight Attendants Question Safety of 737 MAX | website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=October 31, 2019 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/flight-attendants-question-safety-of-max-737-11572563447 | access-date=February 15, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=United Airlines union raises 737 Max safety fears|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/section-news.php?id=213389|date=November 11, 2019|access-date=November 11, 2019|work=The Standard}}</ref>

== Public ==
A March 2019 poll suggested that 53% of American adults would not want to fly on a 737 MAX plane if the aircraft were to be cleared by the FAA the following week.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zhang |first1=Benjamin |title=53% American adults say they don't want to fly on a Boeing 737 Max |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/americans-dont-want-to-fly-boeing-737-max-survey-2019-3 |website=Business Insider |date= March 18, 2019 |quote=If you had a flight on a Boeing 737 Max next week, and the FAA decided to clear the aircraft for flight, given the issues the plane has experienced, what would you do?}}</ref> In July, Southwest Airlines reprinted [[aircraft safety card]]s that were shared between the MAX and the rest of the Southwest [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|737-800]] fleet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Southwest-737-MAX-safety-cards-14088617.php|title=Southwest reissues 737 safety cards to allay MAX fears|last=McGinnis|first=Chris|date=July 11, 2019|website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> An IBD/TIPP Poll surveying Americans in January 2020, found that among the 61% who are closely following news of the MAX, 56% would avoid flying on it once it has reentered service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.investors.com/news/boeing-737-max-distrust-deepens-new-ceo-david-calhoun-takes-over-ibd-tipp-poll/|title=Boeing 737 Max Is A No-Fly Zone For This Many People: IBD/TIPP Poll|date=January 14, 2020|work=Investor's Business Daily}}</ref>

Investment company [[UBS]] does not "anticipate significant [[market share|share]] erosion" as it ran a public poll run showing 8% of the U.S. flying public would never fly the 737 MAX, (dropping to 3% when including that two-thirds seldom or never check the aircraft type before booking a flight), while 60% would fly it after at least six months of safe operations and a tenth would fly it after one to three months, not mattering much as airliner procurement time-frames are five to ten-plus years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://aviationweek.com/commercial-aviation/public-opposition-over-max-could-be-limited-ubs-poll-suggests|title=Public Opposition Over MAX Could Be Limited, UBS Poll Suggests|last=Bruno|first=Michael|date=June 4, 2019|publisher=Aviation Week Network}}</ref>
The survey found that 70% would hesitate today to book a flight on the MAX.<ref name=Bloomberg4june2019/>

A study for [[Atmosphere Research Group]], led by consultant Henry Harteveldt, of U.S. passengers between April 27 to May 1 shown that within six months of its return, 14% would definitely fly on a MAX, at least 20% say they will definitely avoid the plane and over 40% said they'd be willing to take pricier or less convenient flights to stay off the MAX.<ref name=Bloomberg4june2019>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/boeing-737-max-seen-as-airplane-non-grata-by-wary-travelers-1.1268532|title=Boeing 737 Max seen as 'airplane non grata' by wary travelers |agency=Bloomberg|date=June 4, 2019|author=Mary Schlangenstein}}</ref>

Various strategies to reinstate public confidence into the MAX are being proposed.<ref name=":39">{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-10-10/getting-passengers-back-737-max-flying-after-two-fatal-accidents|title=Fixing the 737 Max has been hard. Getting people aboard may be harder|date=October 10, 2019|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 10, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":41">{{Cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-will-boeing-and-the-airlines-handle-the-return-of-the-737-max-8/|title=How Will Airlines Handle the Return of Boeing's 737 Max 8?|last=Barwick|first=Ryan|date=October 17, 2019|website=Adweek|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":44" />{{vague|date=December 2019}}

On September 12, 2019, Boeing started an advertisement campaign, in which employees praise its planes' safety.<ref name=":44">{{Cite web|url=https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/boeing-wants-it-fly-travelers-fear-737-max-doc-1lj7tp2|title=Boeing wants it to fly, but travelers fear the 737 MAX|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=October 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020223830/https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/boeing-wants-it-fly-travelers-fear-737-max-doc-1lj7tp2|archive-date=October 20, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Information packages for travelers about the safety of the redesigned MAX are being prepared by Boeing with the support of airlines.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/24/business/boeing-737-max-survey.html|title=Boeing Can't Fly Its 737 Max, but It's Ready to Sell Its Safety|last=Gelles|first=David|date=December 24, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 25, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Boeing also produced video capsules showing support from chief pilot Jennifer Henderson.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/willhorton1/2019/12/26/boeing-promotes-737-max-safety-to-the-public-where-40-dont-want-to-fly-on-a-max/|title=Boeing Promotes 737 MAX Safety To The Public, Where 40% Don't Want To Fly On A MAX|last=Horton|first=Will|website=Forbes|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>

For Marian Pistik, head of asset management at International Airfinance Corporation, the case of the MAX is unprecedented due to allegations of wrongdoings. The groundings of the DC-10 and of the [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery problems|Dreamliner]] could not be directly compared to the global B737 MAX grounding: "there was no suspicion that Boeing or any [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]] knew of the problem and tried to disguise it or […] any suspicion of wrongdoing or not being compliant or forthcoming with the issues of the 737 Max."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/10/31/grounding-of-boeings-737-max-has-no-historic-precedent/|title=Grounding of Boeing's 737 Max has 'no historic precedent'|website=Business Traveller|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>

In November 2020, when the FAA ungrounded the 737 MAX, families and friends of the victims criticized the FAA and Boeing, saying that the process was "rushed" and that the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash was still under investigation.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kotoky|first=Anurag|date=2020-11-19|title=Pilot's Mother Criticizes FAA, Boeing for Rushing Max Return|work=Bloomberg News|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-19/pilot-s-mother-criticizes-faa-boeing-for-rushing-max-s-comeback|access-date=2020-11-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=McIntosh|first=Andrew|date=2020-11-17|title=Families of Ethiopian Airlines crash victims urge FAA not to recertify 737 Max until final report released|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2020/11/17/boeing-737-max-ethiopian-air-crash-faa-finalreport.html|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Jung|first1=Jinsol|last2=Rhee|first2=Joseph|last3=Wagschal|first3=Gerry|date=2020-11-25|title=Boeing 737 MAX crash victims' families say they fear the aircraft flying again|work=ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/boeing-737-max-crash-victims-families-fear-aircraft/story?id=74321546|access-date=2020-11-26}}</ref>

== Airlines ==
<!-- Lion Air -->
In October 2018, after the crash but before the groundings, Lion Air had replaced its technical director, and the technicians who cleared the flight.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://setkab.go.id/en/lion-air-technical-director-removed-from-office-after-deadly-crash/|title=Lion Air Technical Director Removed From Office After Deadly Crash|date=October 31, 2018|website=Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation}}</ref><!-- American Airlines -->
Because the groundings made the aircraft unavailable for service, airlines were forced to cancel thousands of flights, hundreds every day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gregg |first1=Aaron |last2=MacMillan |first2=Douglas |title=Airlines cancel thousands of flights as Boeing works to fix 737 Max software problems |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/07/14/airlines-cancel-thousands-flights-boeing-works-fix-max-software-problems/ |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=October 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shepardson |first1=David |title=American Airlines cancels 737 MAX flights until Jan. 16 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane/american-airlines-cancels-boeing-737-max-flights-until-jan-16-idUSKBN1WO1FX |work=Reuters |date=October 9, 2019 |access-date=October 20, 2019}}</ref> American Airlines was the first U.S. airline to cancel a route when it stopped service from Dallas, Texas to Oakland, California.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isidore |first=Chris |title=American is first US airline to drop a route because of 737 Max grounding |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=July 2, 2019 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/02/business/american-airlines-boeing-737-max/index.html |access-date=July 30, 2019}}</ref>

<!-- Southwest Airlines -->
On July 26, Southwest announced it would stop operations out of [[Newark Liberty International Airport]] due to the groundings.<ref name="NYT_SW_Newark">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/business/southwest-airlines-newark.html|title=Southwest Airlines to Leave Newark Airport as Toll of Boeing's 737 Max Grounding Grows|last=Tsang|first=Amie|date=July 25, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 26, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> It removed the MAX name from [[Aircraft safety card|safety cards]] for the [[Boeing 737 Next Generation|737NG]] to address customer complaints.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gilbertson|first=Dawn|title=Southwest updates safety information cards to avoid Boeing 737 Max confusion|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2019/07/10/boeing-737-max-southwest-changes-safety-information-cards-to-avoid-passenger-confusion/1691808001/|access-date=2021-07-17|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref>

<!-- United Airlines -->
In May 2019, United Airlines' CEO Oscar Muñoz said that passengers would still feel uncertain about flying on a Boeing 737 MAX even after the software update.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/30/united-airlines-ceo-oscar-munoz-on-what-happens-when-737-max-returns.html|title=United CEO says he's not sure travelers will want to fly on a Boeing 737 Max — even after a fix|last=Bursztynsky|first=Jessica|date=May 30, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=May 30, 2019}}</ref> United announced the cancellation of a route between Chicago, Illinois and Leon, Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |title=United Airlines Suspending Flights From O'Hare To Leon, Mexico, Due To 737 Max Grounding |publisher=CBS Chicago |date=July 30, 2019 |url=https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/07/30/united-airlines-suspends-flights-ohare-leon-mexico-boeing-737-max/ |access-date=July 30, 2019 |agency=CNN Wire }}</ref> On October 16, 2019, Muñoz stated that "nobody knows" when the plane will fly again.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Josephs |first1=Leslie |title=United Airlines CEO on Boeing 737 Max return: 'No one knows' |date=October 16, 2019 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/10/16/united-airlines-ceo-on-boeing-737-max-return-no-one-knows.html |publisher=CNBC |access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref>

<!-- Ethiopian Airlines -->
Ethiopian Airlines said "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".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/04/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-preliminary-report-intl/index.html|title=Boeing CEO 'sorry' for lives lost in 737 MAX accidents|last1=Liebermann|first1=Oren|last2=Kriel|first2=Robyn|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 26, 2019|last3=Bekele|first3=Kaleyesus|date=April 4, 2019 }}</ref> The CEO also pushed back and rejected the notion that his airlines pilots were not fully trained or experienced, a notion intimated in the [[US House of Representatives]] in a recent hearing by the FAA director. Ethiopian Airlines rejects the accusation of piloting error.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://bbc.co.uk/news/extra/sd9LGK2S9m/battle_over_blame|title=Battle over blame|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref> He said: "As far as the training is concerned ... we've gone according to the Boeing recommendation and FAA-approved one. We are not expected to speculate or to imagine something that doesn't exist at all".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/23/business/ethiopian-airlines-max-8-boeing-simulator-intl/index.html|title=Ethiopian Airlines CEO rejects criticism that pilots did not train on 737 Max 8 simulator|last1=Quest|first1=Richard|last2=Mackintosh|first2=Eliza|date=March 23, 2019 |publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> In June, Ethiopian Airlines CEO [[Tewolde Gebremariam]] expressed his confidence in the process for bringing the MAX back into service, and expected Ethiopian to be the last carrier to resume flights.<ref name="flightglobal_20190620_conf">{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-ethiopian-chief-now-has-confidence-in-max-459101/|title=PARIS: Ethiopian chief now has confidence in Max certification process|last=Harper|first=Lewis|date=June 18, 2019|work=Flightglobal|access-date=June 20, 2019}}</ref>

Ethiopian Airlines' ex-chief engineer filed a whistleblower complaint to the regulators about alleged corruption in Ethiopian Airlines. He is also seeking asylum in the U.S. He said that, a day after the Flight 302 crash, the carrier altered maintenance records of a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. He submits that the alteration was part of a generalized culture of corruption "that included fabricating documents, signing off on shoddy repairs and even beating those who got out of line".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2019/10/07/ethiopian-airlines-whistleblower-alleges-corruption-after-737-crash/3898991002/|title=Boeing 737 Max crash: Whistleblower complaint alleges corruption in Ethiopian Airlines|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=October 7, 2019}}</ref>

<!-- Aeroflot -->
In March 2019, [[RT (TV network)|RT]] reported the indefinite suspension of contracts for the purchase by Russian airlines of dozens of aircraft, including Aeroflot's Pobeda subsidiary, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines and UTair. Vitaly Savelyev, Aeroflot's CEO, said that "the company would refuse operating MAX planes ordered by Pobeda".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aerotime.aero/ruta.burbaite/22843-aeroflot-to-add-airbus-a320neos-remains-firm-on-boeing-737-max|title=Aeroflot to add Airbus A320neos, remains firm on Boeing 737 MAX|website=aerotime.aero|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>

<!-- IAG -->
On June 18, International Airlines Group (IAG) announced plans for a fleet comprising 200 Boeing 737 MAX jets. Boeing and IAG signed a letter of intent at the Paris Air Show valued at a list price of over {{US$|24{{nbsp}}billion}}.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2019-06-18-International-Airlines-Group-Announces-Intent-to-Buy-200-Boeing-737-MAX-Airplanes|title=International Airlines Group Announces Intent to Buy 200 Boeing 737 MAX Airplanes|publisher=Boeing|date=June 18, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>

<!-- Norwegian -->
Bjorn Kjos, ex-CEO of [[Norwegian Air Shuttle]] who stepped down in July, stated in July that the company "has a huge appetite for 737 MAX jets", according to a report from [[American City Business Journals]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2019/07/16/norwegian-air-has-huge-appetite-for-boeing-737-max.html|title=Norwegian Air has 'huge appetite' for Boeing 737 Max jets despite grounding|website=The Business Journals|access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref>
He had said: "It is quite obvious that we will not take the cost... We will send this bill to those who produced this aircraft."<ref name=":28">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/business/boeing-737-charge.html|title=Boeing Says Charges Tied to 737 Max Grounding to Reach $8 Billion|last=Gelles|first=David|date=July 18, 2019|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 19, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

<!-- Ryanair -->
In mid-July, Ryanair warned that some of its bases would be subject to short-term closures in 2020, due to the shortfall in MAX deliveries, and pointed out that the MAX 200 version it has ordered will require separate certification expected to take a further two months after the MAX returns to service.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kaminski-Morrow |first1=David |title=Ryanair warns of base cuts over 737 Max delays |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ryanair-warns-of-base-cuts-over-737-max-delays-459684/ |work=Flightglobal |date=July 16, 2019}}</ref> By the end of July, Ryanair CEO [[Michael O'Leary (businessman)|Michael O'Leary]] expressed further concerns and frustration with the delays and revealed that, in parallel with discussions with Boeing regarding a potential order for new aircraft to be delivered from 2023, he was also talking to Airbus which was offering very aggressive pricing.<ref name=flightglobal-ryanair-20190729>{{cite news |last1=Bryan |first1=Victoria |title=Boeing needs to 'get its [act] together': Ryanair chief |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-needs-to-get-its-act-together-ryanair-ch-459960/ |work=Flightglobal |date=July 29, 2019}}</ref> In February 2020, O'Leary revealed that Ryanair has an offer "on the table" for an order of 230-seat MAX 10s, and expected to be "at the head of the queue" once Boeing is in a position to sign new purchases.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ryanair doubles down on Boeing 737 Max |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/fleets/ryanair-doubles-down-on-boeing-737-max/136504.article |work=Cirium |date=February 3, 2020 }}</ref>

== Observers ==
=== Pilot authors ===
Retired airline captain [[Chesley Sullenberger]], who gained fame in the [[Miracle on the Hudson]] accident in 2009, said, "These crashes are demonstrable evidence that our current system of aircraft design and certification has failed us. These accidents should never have happened."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/captain-sullenberger-sully-testifies-congress-boeing-737-max-8-airplanes-deadly-crashes/|title=Captain Sullenberger tells Congress, Boeing 737 Max crashes "should never have happened"|date=June 19, 2019 |publisher=CBS News|access-date=July 24, 2019}}</ref> He sharply criticized Boeing and the FAA, saying they "have been found wanting in this ugly saga". He said the overly "cozy relationship" between the aviation industry and government was seen when the Boeing CEO "reached out to the U.S. President to try to keep the 737 MAX 8 from being grounded." He also lamented understaffing and underfunding of the FAA. "Good business means that it is always better and cheaper to do it right instead of doing it wrong and trying to repair the damage after the fact, and when lives are lost, there is no way to repair the damage."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sullenberger |first1=Capt. "Sully" |title=Capt. Sullenberger on the FAA and Boeing: 'Our credibility as leaders in aviation is being damaged' |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/capt-sully-sullenberger-where-boeing-and-the-faa-went-wrong-in-this-ugly-saga-2019-03-19 |website=MarketWatch |date=March 20, 2019}}</ref>

Author, journalist, and pilot [[William Langewiesche]] wrote his first article in ''[[The New York Times Magazine]]'', saying: "What we had in the two downed airplanes was a textbook failure of [[airmanship]]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/magazine/boeing-737-max-crashes.html|title=What Really Brought Down the Boeing 737 Max?|last=Langewiesche|first=William|date=September 18, 2019|work=[[The New York Times Magazine]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/boeing-737-max-crash-aircraft-stall-grounded-pilots-blamed-a9111646.html|title=Former pilot blames training and lack of 'airmanship' for fatal Boeing crashes|date=September 19, 2019|website=[[The Independent]]|access-date=September 19, 2019}}</ref> To which, another aviation author, [[Christine Negroni]] wrote back "the argument that more competent pilots could have handled the problem is not knowable to Langewiesche and it misses the most basic tenet of air safety anyway."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://christinenegroni.com/irony-of-pilot-laying-blame-on-pilots-in-boeing-737-max-disasters/|title= Irony of Pilot Laying Blame On Pilots in Boeing 737 Max Disasters|author=Christine Negroni|date=September 21, 2019|author-link= Christine Negroni}}</ref> She explains that an accident investigation is not about blame, is not only about what happened, but rather strives to identify the root causes. The counterpoint's essence is that Langewiesche downplays the "failure of systems and processes that put a deeply flawed airplane in the hands of pilots around the world". Captain [[Chesley Sullenberger]] also replied to the paper by a letter to the editors, in which he says: "I have long stated, as he does note, that pilots must be capable of absolute mastery of the aircraft and the situation at all times, a concept pilots call airmanship. Inadequate pilot training and insufficient pilot experience are problems worldwide, but they do not excuse the fatally flawed design of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) that was a death trap."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sullysullenberger.com/my-letter-to-the-editor-of-new-york-times-magazine/|title=My Letter to the Editor of New York Times Magazine|date=October 13, 2019|website=Sully Sullenberger|access-date=October 18, 2019}}</ref>

=== Former NTSB members ===
On March 12, 2019, Jim Hall, a former chairman of the [[National Transportation Safety Board]] (NTSB), the U.S. agency that investigates airplane crashes, said the FAA should ground the airplane.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steinbuch |first1=Yaron |title=Former NTSB boss won't fly on Boeing jet until Ethiopian crash mystery is solved |url=https://nypost.com/2019/03/12/former-ntsb-boss-wont-fly-on-boeing-jet-until-crash-mystery-is-solved/ |website=[[New York Post]] |access-date=April 30, 2019 |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref> Engineering experts have pointed out misconceptions of the general public and media concerning the 737 MAX characteristics and the crashes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4286602-boeing-737-max-misconceptions-engineers-view|title=The Boeing 737 MAX Misconceptions: An Engineer's View|last=Bechai|first=Dhierin|date=August 21, 2019|website=Seeking Alpha|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> Andrew Skow, a former Northrop Grumman chief engineer, assessed Boeing as having good track record modernizing of the 737, but, "They may have pushed it too far."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-fi-boeing-max-design-20190315-story.html|title=Must Reads: How a 50-year-old design came back to haunt Boeing with its troubled 737 Max jet|date=March 15, 2019|first=Ralph |last=Vartabedian|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=September 11, 2019}}</ref>

Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the NTSB, said: "One of the ways Boeing marketed the 737 Max was the modest amount of training up for current 737 pilots. You didn't have to go back to the Sim [the flight simulator] again and again."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/03/13/boeing-still-insists-its-planes-are-safe-so-why-is-the-faa-ordering-fixes/ |title=Boeing Insists Its Planes Are Safe. So Why Is the FAA Ordering Fixes? |last=Hirsh |first=Michael |website=Foreign Policy |date=March 13, 2019 |access-date=July 5, 2019}}</ref> James E. (Jim) Hall, [[List of members of the National Transportation Safety Board|chairman of the NTSB]] from 1994 to 2001, blamed the FAA regulators for giving too much power to the airline industry.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/13/opinion/boeing-737-grounded.html |title=The 737 Max Is Grounded, No Thanks to the F.A.A. |last=Hall |first=James E. |date=March 13, 2019 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 5, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name= "NYT_20190717">{{cite news |title=The Boeing 737 Max Crisis Is a Leadership Failure |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 17, 2019 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/17/opinion/boeing-737-max.html |access-date=July 27, 2019| first1=Jim |last1=Hall |first2=Peter |last2=Goelz}}</ref> In July, Hall and Goelz co-signed an opinion letter to ''The New York Times'', in which they said: "Boeing has found a willing partner in the FAA, which allowed the company to circumvent standard certification processes so it could sell aircraft more quickly. Boeing's inadequate regard for safety and the FAA's complicity display an unconscionable lack of leadership at both organizations." The letter went on to compare the current crisis with Boeing's handling of [[Boeing 737 rudder issues]] in the 1990s.<ref name="NYT_20190717" />
In January 2020, Hall, said in an interview on CNBC: "... we had the example this week of the [[Turkish Airlines Flight 1951|2009 Turkish accident]] where it had similarities that should have been picked up immediately when they had problems with the 737 MAX so it makes you wonder what do they know about safety. Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing? Are these comments that were made and distributed by the employees about the dysfunction still in existence?"<ref>{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXMFsQVeOpE|title=Boeing has cried wolf too many times: Former NTSB chairman|date=January 22, 2020}}</ref>

John Goglia, former member of the NTSB, criticized Boeing and the FAA for not protecting FAA-designated oversight engineers from Boeing management pressure. Commenting on the 2016 removal of a senior engineer who had insisted on improved testing of a fire suppression system, he said that management action of this kind produces a chilling effect on others and "negates the whole system."<ref name=":15" /> He also criticized Congress for pushing the FAA to delegate even more to the industry, as it passed the 2018 [[FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018|FAA Reauthorization Act]], which mandated further expansion of the Organization Delegation Authorization (ODA) program. "Apparently, Congress didn't think the FAA was delegating enough to ODA holders. [...] many of its members are also accepting campaign donations from aircraft manufacturers, such as Boeing, which clearly have an interest in pushing the FAA to delegate more and more authority to manufacturers with as little oversight as possible".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/blogs/torqued-congresss-role-boeing-737-max-accidents-needs-look|title=Torqued: Congress's Role in the Boeing 737 Max Accidents Needs a Look|last=Goglia|first=John|date=October 1, 2019|website=Aviation International News|access-date=October 5, 2019}}</ref>

=== Consumer advocates ===
In May 2019, the consumer advocate organization [[FlyersRights.org|Flyers Rights]] opposed the FAA's position of not requiring simulator training for 737 MAX pilots. It also asked to extend the comment period to allow independent experts to "share their expertise with the FAA and Boeing".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://flyersrights.org/safety/demand_for_simulator_training_for_737_max/|title=FlyersRights.org Demands Simulator Training for 737 MAX Pilots, Moves for FAA to Extend Deadline for Public Comments on Differential Training|last=Andrew Appelbaum|date=May 1, 2019|website=Flyers Rights|access-date=August 21, 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, Flyers Rights sued the FAA for its refusal to allow access to the Boeing 737 MAX records. The organization argues for transparency and independent review prior to ungrounding the MAX. It is supported by aviation professionals including [[Chesley Sullenberger]], Michael Goldfarb, an aviation safety consultant and former chief of staff and senior policy adviser to the FAA Administrator, and several other experts.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flyersrights-sues-faa-for-refusal-to-release-boeing-737-max-records-300978034.html|title=FlyersRights Sues FAA For Refusal To Release Boeing 737 MAX Records|last=FlyersRights.org|agency=PR Newswire|access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref>

In June 2019, consumer advocate [[Ralph Nader]], who lost a grandniece in one of the accidents, claimed that the Boeing 737 "must never fly again... it's not a matter of software.<ref name=":53">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/18/the-case-against-boeing|title=The Case Against Boeing|last=MacGillis|first=Alec|magazine=The New Yorker|date=2019-11-11|access-date=2019-11-11|issn=0028-792X}}</ref> It's a matter of structural design defect: the plane's engines are too much for the traditional fuselage". Nader also called for Boeing top leaders to resign.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Beene |first1=Ryan |title=Ralph Nader Says Boeing 737 Max Is Flawed and Should Never Fly Again |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-04/nader-says-boeing-737-max-is-flawed-and-should-never-fly-again |publisher=Bloomberg News |date= June 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Bursztynsky |first=Jessica |title=Consumer advocate Ralph Nader says Boeing 737 Max should never fly again |publisher=CNBC |date=July 23, 2019 |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/23/ralph-nader-says-boeing-737-max-should-never-fly-again.html |access-date=July 27, 2019}}</ref> In October, Nader called for the replacement of Muilenburg and the complete board of directors as the crisis grows, saying: " They don't want to admit that they really, really performed in a very seriously adverse way to the safety of airline passengers".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/21/ralph-nader-calls-for-removal-boeing-ceo-muilenburg-entire-board.html|title=Ralph Nader, whose grandniece died in a 737 Max crash, says Boeing CEO Muilenburg and entire board need to go|last=Bursztynsky|first=Jessica|date=October 21, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=October 23, 2019}}</ref> On December 13, 2019, he appealed to Canada's Prime Minister [[Justin Trudeau]] to not rely on FAA's decision for ungrounding the MAX, but that Transport Canada do their own independent decision: "Obviously the Canadian decision is very important. It's not likely that the FAA will unground the plane unless Canada goes along...We're relying on Canada here … The FAA will not go without Canada".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/12/12/safety-advocate-ralph-nader-urges-canada-to-do-its-own-review-of-the-boeing-737-max-before-clearing-it-to-fly.html|title=Safety advocate Ralph Nader urges Canada to do its own review of the Boeing 737 Max before clearing it to fly|website=Toronto Star|date=December 13, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2019}}</ref> Nader was interviewed on Democracy Now! and covered the safety concerns on his own program, the Ralph Nader Radio Hour.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

=== Business analysts ===
The 737 MAX grounding has drawn historical comparisons with the [[DC-10]] in 1979 and [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery problems|Boeing 787]] in  2013. Marian Pistik, head of asset management at [[International Airfinance Corporation]] said that in either case, "there was no suspicion that Boeing or any [[OEM]] knew of the problem and tried to disguise it, or any suspicion of wrongdoing or not being compliant or forthcoming with the issues of the 737 Max."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Allen|first=Michael|date=31 Oct 2019|title=Grounding of Boeing's 737 Max has 'no historic precedent'|url=https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2019/10/31/grounding-of-boeings-737-max-has-no-historic-precedent/|website=[[Business Traveller]]}}</ref>

In September, aerospace analyst [[Richard Aboulafia]] said about Boeing: "This is an engineering company, it needs an engineering culture and engineering management; it deviated pretty far from this at the time when the MAX was being developed."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-30/boeing-fine-tunes-software-creates-safety-group-as-it-readies-737-max-for-return|title=Boeing fine-tunes software, creates safety group as it readies 737 Max for return|date=September 30, 2019|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=October 1, 2019}}</ref> 

In December 2019, he wrote: "[[Dave Calhoun|Calhoun]] is replacing [[Dennis Muilenburg]] because the latter CEO's year has been disastrous. The company's communications with Congress, the FAA, international regulators, airline and lessor customers, suppliers, the victims' families, and pretty much the entire outside world were a master class in bad [[crisis management]]."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Guest Column: Boeing's Calhoun: Fantastic 9-month CEO or disastrous multi-year CEO?|url=https://leehamnews.com/2020/01/12/guest-column-boeings-calhoun-fantastic-9-month-ceo-or-disastrous-multi-year-ceo/|last=Aboulafia|first=Richard|date=December 2019|work=Leeham News and Analysis}}</ref> He added in January 2020: "It's no longer about MCAS. It's about things that might be discovered.[...] This is going to be the most scrutinized certification in history."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/business/boeing-737-max-return/index.html |title=You won't be flying on a 737 Max anytime soon |first=Chris |last=Isidore |work=[[CNN]] Business |access-date=January 20, 2020}}</ref>

About Boeing's internal employee emails released in January 2020, travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said: "Not only do they further weaken confidence in the 737 Max, they also paint a pretty caustic picture of Boeing and its culture itself. There's the potential that it could cause some people to be concerned about flying on Boeing airplanes, period.<nowiki>''</nowiki><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/01/10/boeing-737-max-plane-crash-emails-passenger-safety/4430651002/|title='These memos definitely don't help': Damning Boeing 737 Max emails add to safety anxiety|last=Gilbertson|first=Dawn|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=January 11, 2020}}</ref>

=== Academia ===
In [[Harvard Business Review]], Amy C. Edmondson writes that Boeing needs a full organizational culture change. "But how telling it is that it takes a cataclysmic event (two, actually) for executives to take culture seriously?"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://hbr.org/2019/05/boeing-and-the-importance-of-encouraging-employees-to-speak-up|title=Boeing and the Importance of Encouraging Employees to Speak Up|last=Edmondson|first=Amy C.|date=May 1, 2019|work=[[Harvard Business Review]]|access-date=October 5, 2019|issn=0017-8012}}</ref>

MIT Sloan senior lecturer Neal Hartman was cited in MIT ideas: "The toxic tone of some of the emails suggests that there are numerous problems at Boeing. [...] Of greatest concern is the fear that employees were either uncomfortable or not empowered – or both – to take their concerns to appropriate levels in the company."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/what-leaders-should-learn-boeing-737-max-emails|title=What leaders should learn from the Boeing 737 MAX emails|website=MIT Sloan|access-date=January 14, 2020}}</ref>

[[Yale University]] senior associate dean [[Jeffrey Sonnenfeld]] went as far as to say that the groundings could become an existential threat to Boeing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/video/2019/05/15/sonnenfeld-boeing-faa-hearing-737-max-leadership-squawk-box.html|title=Why one leadership expert says Boeing is headed for an existential threat|date=May 15, 2019|publisher=CNBC|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>

Rosabeth Moss Kanter, the Arbuckle Professor at [[Harvard Business School]] wrote: "Boeing's new CEO and leadership team must root out arrogance and approach stakeholders with humility and a listening stance. These include government regulators, elected officials, investors, pilot and flight attendant unions, suppliers, maintenance workers, the airlines themselves, and, of course, passengers. [...] A turnaround can't get off the ground without high employee engagement. If the workers who design, build and test the planes don't stand behind the company, no one else will."<ref>{{Cite news|title=It's time for Boeing's new CEO to restore trust by putting people first|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/15/perspectives/boeing-david-calhoun/index.html|last=Moss Kanter|first=Rosabeth|date=January 15, 2020|publisher=[[CNN]] }}</ref>

=== News media ===
On March 11, just after the FAA reaffirmed the MAX's safety, several western media outlets, including the ''[[Financial Times]]'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/920f2ae2-437d-11e9-b168-96a37d002cd3|title=Second crash involving Boeing 737 Max 8: the key questions|work=Financial Times|date=March 11, 2019|url-access=subscription}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'',<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/business/boeing-737-max-8-aircraft-crash-china.html |title=China and Indonesia Order Grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8 Aircraft |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 10, 2019|first=Keith |last=Bradsher}}</ref> [[Fox News]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr3syJB7pwk&t=228s|title=China has a competitor to Boeing 737 Max: Gordon Chang|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=March 11, 2019}}</ref> and [[CNBC]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e47ohXspkPc&t=121s|title=China grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes after second crash|agency=CNBC Television|date= March 11, 2019}}</ref> questioned China's motives for grounding the aircraft by suggesting the action was either "politically motivated" or that China was "potentially benefiting from the grounding". After the rest of the world followed suit with their own groundings, aviation commentators saw this as having bolstered the global reputation of China's CAAC at the expense of the FAA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chinese-regulators-faa-boeing-737-max-20190313-story.html|title=Chinese air safety regulators gain global influence as FAA refuses to ground Boeing 737 Max|date=2019-03-13|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trump-air-safety-leadership-20190315-story.html|title=Across the globe, a question of air safety becomes a question of American leadership|date=2019-03-15|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/13/business/boeing-737-max-global-approval/index.html|title=Boeing desperately needs to get the 737 Max back in the air. Getting it approved will be hard|last=Isidore|first=Chris|website=CNN|date=May 13, 2019 |access-date=2019-09-18|quote=The 737 Max does not appear close to flying again. Aviation experts doubt global regulators will act in concert to approve the 737 Max for flight, because serious questions remain about how and why the FAA approved the 737 Max for flight and whether it rushed the certification process.}}</ref>

On December 21, 2019, in its 'leaders" section, ''[[The Economist]] ''wrote: "Over the past decade Boeing has skimped on research, development and capital spending, investing only 7% of its sales on average, compared with around 10% at Airbus. Once the 737 MAX was the future. It is time for a new pilot and a new course."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/12/18/boeings-misplaced-strategy-on-the-737-max|title=Boeing's misplaced strategy on the 737 MAX|date=December 18, 2019|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=December 18, 2019|issn=0013-0613|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In January 2020, ''[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]]'' Journalist [[Natasha Frost]] observed that Boeing inherited its current [[Organizational culture|management culture]] from its 1997 [[Mergers and acquisitions|merger]] with [[McDonnell Douglas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://qz.com/1776080/how-the-mcdonnell-douglas-boeing-merger-led-to-the-737-max-crisis/|title=The 1997 merger that paved the way for the Boeing 737 Max crisis|last=Frost|first=Natasha|website=Quartz|date=January 3, 2020 |access-date=January 5, 2020|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

[[Dan Catchpole]], a journalist covering Boeing and aerospace summarized in [[Fortune (magazine)|''Fortune'' magazine]]: "Scrutiny from journalists, crash investigators, regulators, Congress, and the Department of Justice has exposed profound flaws in Boeing's corporate culture—shaking its workforce, forcing supplier layoffs, and shattering fliers' trust."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/longform/boeing-737-max-crisis-shareholder-first-culture/|title=The forces behind Boeing's long descent|website=Fortune|date=January 20, 2020|author=Dan Catchpole|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

[[Clive Irving]], Condé Nast Traveler aviation expert, said: "One thing is for sure: in the history of air crash investigations, since the beginning of the Jet Age 60 years ago, there has never been such a serious and sustained breakdown in the safeguards intended to keep flying safe. [...] By the time that the FAA certified that the MAX was safe to fly, early in 2017, it was clear that the agency's culture was as steadfastly in denial as Boeing—even though there were already people in the FAA who knew how dangerous the situation was."<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Boeing 737 MAX Nightmare Keeps Getting Worse|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-boeing-737-max-nightmare-keeps-getting-worse?ref=scroll|last=Irving|first=Clive|date=March 6, 2020|work=[[thedailybeast]]}}</ref>

In May 2020, [[The Seattle Times]] reporters [[Dominic Gates]], Steve Miletich, Mike Baker and Lewis Kamb were awarded a [[Pulitzer Prize]] for their coverage of the crisis.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.seattletimes.com/inside-the-times/seattle-times-wins-pulitzer-prize-for-boeing-737-max-coverage |title= Seattle Times wins Pulitzer Prize for Boeing 737 MAX coverage |date= May 4, 2020 |author= Michelle Baruchman  |newspaper= The Seattle Times }}</ref>

=== Governance experts ===
About Boeing's board, veteran corporate governance expert [[Nell Minow]] said: "This is the quintessential 1990s board. It's CEOs and luminaries, but nobody with the kind of expertise you really need. [...]
The board took no action after the first crash. That's unforgivable."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Column: Boeing's board shouldn't escape blame in 737 Max scandal|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-01-03/boeing-board-bad-management|date=January 3, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

According to [[MSCI]], a performance analytics research firm, Boeing scored 5.4 on a scale of 1–10 on its quality of governance, ranking in the bottom third of S&P 500 companies.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Governance Experts on Boeing: 'There Is Something Wrong with the Board'|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/governance-experts-boeing-apos-something-175810306.html|last=Florian|first=Ellen|date=May 23, 2019|work=Fortune}}</ref>

In April 2019, for a Boeing ballot, shareholder advisory firm [[Glass Lewis]] recommended voting against [[Lawrence Kellner]], former chairman and CEO of [[Continental Airlines]], citing that "the audit committee should have taken a more proactive role in identifying the risks associated with the 737 Max 8 aircraft." Even with the best companies, performing really well with great profit margins and great growth, a weak board is going to struggle when that company runs into a crisis situation. And that's what we're looking at here." As head of the audit committee, Kellner was technically responsible for the safety risks, but the board was never briefed on the MCAS software before the Lion Air crash. Kellner and Calhoun said that they don't consider it "as part of their job to inspect every technical feature on an airplane".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Safety was 'a given': Inside the boardroom amid Boeing's crisis|url=https://www.heraldnet.com/business/safety-was-a-given-inside-the-boardroom-amid-boeings-crisis/|date=May 6, 2019|work=HeraldNet.com}}</ref>

=== Politicians ===
* On March 12, 2019, U.S. President [[Donald Trump on social media|Donald Trump tweeted]] a complaint about complex airplane systems, and Boeing CEO [[Dennis Muilenburg]] called the president to assure him of the 737 MAX's safety.<ref name="CNNtweet">{{cite news |last1=Zeleny |first1=Jeff |last2=Schouten |first2=Fredreka |title=Trump speaks to Boeing CEO following tweets on airline technology |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/12/politics/donald-trump-boeing-ceo-dennis-muilenberg/index.html |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=May 17, 2019 |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airlines-trump-idUSKBN1QT2MQ|title=Ties between Boeing and Trump run deep|date=March 12, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/surprise-trump-kept-737-max-jets-flying-after-personal-call-from-boeing-ceo|title=Surprise: Trump Kept 737 Max Jets Flying After Call from Boeing C.E.O.|first=Bess|last=Levin |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |access-date=March 15, 2019}}</ref> The FAA stated hours later that it had "no basis to order grounding the aircraft" and no data from other countries to justify such action.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/11/politics/faa-737-max-ethiopian-airlines-lion-air/index.html| title=FAA declines to ground Boeing 737 MAX 8, says unknown if two crashes are linked |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=March 20, 2019}}</ref>
* U.S. Senators [[Elizabeth Warren]], [[Mitt Romney]], [[Dianne Feinstein]], [[Ted Cruz]], [[Roger Wicker]] and [[Richard Blumenthal]] called for the FAA to temporarily ground all 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 jets.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Senate to hold crash hearing as lawmakers urge grounding Boeing 737 MAX 8 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airline-usa/u-s-senate-to-hold-crash-hearing-as-lawmakers-urge-grounding-boeing-737-max-8-idUSKBN1QT1WR |work=Reuters |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name="eunews">{{cite news |title=U.S. to mandate design changes on Boeing 737 MAX 8 after crashes |url=https://www.euronews.com/2019/03/12/us-to-mandate-design-changes-on-boeing-737-max-8-after-crashes |publisher=Euronews |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airline-usa-idUSKBN1QT1WR|title=U.S. U.S. Senate to hold crash hearing as lawmakers urge grounding Boeing 737 MAX 8|date=March 12, 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=March 14, 2019}}</ref> Cruz and Wicker announced plans to hold a hearing in the [[United States Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space|Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space]] "to investigate these crashes, determine their contributing factors, and ensure that the United States aviation industry remains the safest in the world."<ref name=":1" /> Warren went as far as to question if the Trump administration was protecting Boeing.<ref>{{cite news |title=Warren calls for Congress to question if Trump is protecting Boeing |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-calls-for-congress-to-question-if-trump-is-protecting-boeing-2019-03-12 |publisher=MarketWatch |date=March 12, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Kyrsten Sinema]] among other U.S. Senators at a March 28, 2019, hearing questioned a panel of regulators in the committee responsible for aviation oversight in the [[US Senate]], "Is there more we need to do?"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.enotrans.org/article/congress-questions-officials-on-boeing-737-max-and-faa-regulations/|title=Congress Questions Officials on Boeing 737 MAX and FAA Regulations|website=The Eno Center for Transportation|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref> Kyrsten also questioned why more detail was not included in the flight operations manuals given to pilots not offering details of new features and systems like MCAS since the previous models: "Can you talk about why this was not included in pilot training material?"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?459047-1/faa-ntsb-officials-testify-airline-safety-wake-boeing-737-crashes|title=Commercial Airline Safety |publisher=C-SPAN|access-date=July 26, 2019}}</ref>
* On April 15, 2019, President Trump tweeted: "What do I know about branding, maybe nothing (but I did become President!), but if I were Boeing, I would FIX the Boeing 737 MAX, add some additional great features, & REBRAND the plane with a new name."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/04/15/737-max-8-donald-trump-boeing-rebrand-different-name/3470794002/|title=Donald Trump to Boeing: Fix the 737 Max and 'REBRAND the plane with a new name'|website=[[USA Today]]|access-date=June 29, 2019}}</ref>
* In May 2019, Congressman Sam Graves stated that errors made by the Indonesian and Ethiopian pilots for the 737 MAX crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia. Graves continued that pilots trained in the USA would not have crashed. Noteworthy is that Boeing had not yet even acknowledged<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/how-much-was-pilot-error-a-factor-in-the-boeing-737-max-crashes/ | title=How much was pilot error a factor in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes? | date=May 15, 2019 }}</ref> MCAS in the training literature at that point.
* On October 29, before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, senator Richard Blumenthal said: "Boeing came to my office and said this was the result of pilot error, those pilots never had a chance, victims never had a chance, they were in flying coffins".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/lawmakers-prepare-grill-boeing-ceo-737-max-crashes/story?id=66588497|title=When asked if he'll resign, Boeing CEO says 'that's not where my focus is'|website=ABC News|access-date=October 30, 2019}}</ref>
* On December 15, President Trump called Muilenburg, to inquire about the potential shutdown of 737 MAX production. Muilenburg assured Trump that the shutdown, set to begin in January 2020, was temporary and it would not cause any staff layoffs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/18/business/trump-boeing-dennis-muilenburg.html|title=Trump Called Boeing C.E.O. About Potential Shutdown of 737 Max|last1=Kitroeff|first1=Natalie|date=December 18, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 19, 2019|last2=Gelles|first2=David|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-boeing-737max/trump-called-boeing-ceo-to-inquire-about-737-max-production-halt-sources-idUSKBN1YN25I|title=Trump called Boeing CEO to inquire about 737 MAX production halt: sources|last=Shepardson|first=David|date=December 18, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 19, 2019}}</ref>
*President Trump made two executive orders to cut regulatory oversight and shift supervision to industry. His administration's 2019 budget cut 18% of the transportation department budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2019/03/18/did-trump-executive-orders-further-weaken-faa-oversight/|title=Did Trump Executive Orders Further Weaken FAA Oversight?|last=Garcia|first=Marisa|website=Forbes|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:2019 in aviation]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX]]
[[Category:Boeing]]