Deadly crashes were far from the first time federal aviation officials heard concerns with Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.
The airplane model has been the subject of investigations and country-wide bans after a second plane crashed Sunday, killing everyone onboard. But in the months prior, at least five pilots reported serious safety issues with the MAX 8 to a federal database, The Dallas Morning News first reported.
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In the report submitted to the federal database, the pilot characterized the 737 MAX 8's flight mechanisms as "jury rigging," and said it was "unconscionable that a manufacturer, the FAA, and the airlines" would let pilots fly such a "highly complex" plane without extensive training, Politico details. The flight manual provided "criminally insufficient" information, the anonymous pilot also said. Other pilots detailed issues with the plane's autopilot system, all occurring right as the plane climbed after takeoff.
The second Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday involved a brand new plane and a pilot with an "excellent flying record." It also crashed right after takeoff, killing all 157 passengers and crew members. An FAA spokesperson told The Dallas Morning News that "thus far, our review shows no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft." Boeing has similarly defended the model's safety. Read more about what was in the complaints at The Dallas Morning News.
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