Boeing ‘inappropriately coached’ test pilots after fatal 737 MAX crashes, says US Senate report
- The report noted Southwest Airlines was able to operate more than 150,000 flights without confirmation that required maintenance had been completed
- Boeing said on Friday it takes ‘seriously the committee’s findings and will continue to review the report in full’
Boeing officials “inappropriately coached” test pilots during recertification efforts after two fatal 737 MAX crashes killed 346 people, according to a lengthy congressional report released on Friday.
The report from the Senate Commerce Committee Republican staff said testing this year of a key safety system known as MCAS tied to both fatal crashes was contrary to proper protocol.
The committee concluded Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing officials “had established a predetermined outcome to reaffirm a long-held human factor assumption related to pilot reaction time … It appears, in this instance, FAA and Boeing were attempting to cover up important information that may have contributed to the 737 MAX tragedies.”
The report citing a whistle-blower who alleged Boeing officials encouraged test pilots to “remember, get right on that pickle switch” before the exercise that resulted in pilot reaction in around four seconds, while another pilot in a separate test reacted in around 16 seconds.
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The account was corroborated during an FAA staff interview, the committee added.
Numerous reports have found Boeing failed to adequately consider how pilots respond to cockpit emergencies in its development of the 737 MAX.
