Boeing defends safety practices after Indonesian airline calamity

A group of pilots alleges that crucial information was withheld from them until after the Lion Air crash, which killed 189 people. Boeing says safety ‘remains a core value.’

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In the wake of a disaster, Boeing is on defense as a group of pilots claims the company failed to impart essential safety information about a new jet feature.

The scrutiny comes after Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the ocean, killing 189. Investigators are trying to learn whether a safety mechanism—a feature in the updated 737 Max aircraft—that is supposed to automatically bring a plane out of a stall malfunctioned and instead sent the plane nose-down to its demise.

Reports suggest the feature could take over control of the plane even during manual operation by the pilots.

As was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, the Allied Pilots Association alleges Boeing failed to disclose information about the new stall-prevention technology, compromising the safe operation of the aircraft.

CNN reported:

The Allied Pilots Association rejected Boeing’s assertion that a safety bulletin issued last week was meant to reinforce procedures already in the 737 MAX flight manual.

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