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Families of crash victims want U.S.
to rescind approval for Boeing 737 MAX to fly again
(Reuters) -The families of victims killed in two
crashes by Boeing Co's 737 MAX want U.S. regulators to rescind approval for the
planes to fly again, following a Senate report that raised concerns about the
re-approval process.
The
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) lifted its 20-month safety ban of the 737
MAX on Nov. 18 after green-lighting design changes by Boeing to address issues
involved in two fatal crashes in Indonesia in late 2018 and in Ethiopia in early
2019.
But a
lengthy Senate Commerce Committee report released on Friday found that Boeing
officials "inappropriately coached" FAA test pilots during its recertification
efforts.
"The
Committee found wrongful and potentially unlawful behavior that must be
investigated to determine whether the MAX recertification process was tainted,"
families of Ethiopian crash victims said in the Dec. 22 letter to the FAA and
Department of Transportation that was reviewed by Reuters.
Asked
for comment, the FAA said it had worked closely with other international
regulators to conduct "a thorough and deliberate review" of the 737
MAX.
"We are
confident that the safety issues that played a role in the tragic accidents
involving Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 have been
addressed through the design changes required and independently approved by the
FAA and its partners," a spokesman said.
Boeing
declined to comment. When the Senate report was released on Dec. 18, Boeing said
it takes "seriously the committee’s findings and will continue to review the
report in full."
"With
the first U.S. flight of the 737 MAX set to occur within days, we call for the
plane to be immediately grounded based upon the new revelations," the families
wrote.
A total
of 346 people died in the two crashes.
American Airlines is set to fly the plane on Dec. 29
for the first time in the United States with commercial passengers since the
plane's global grounding in March 2019.
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