Black box data suggests links between Ethiopian Airlines, Lion Air crashes

Black box data from Ethiopian Airlines flight 302, which crashed shortly after takeoff on March 10 killing all 157 on board, suggested that the accident was caused by a faulty sensor that activated an automated stall-prevention software. The software is then believed by investigators to have repeatedly pushed down on the nose of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, forcing the plane into an irrecoverable nose-dive.

The revelation is similar to suspicions about another 737 MAX, flown by Lion Air, that crashed in the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia last October. The crashes were thought to be linked prior to the results of the black box data. The 737 MAX was therefore grounded worldwide while Boeing worked to address the issue. The investigation into both crashes is still ongoing.

The news will add even more pressure on Boeing, which is already under scrutiny for reportedly rushing the 737 MAX onto the market without proper pilot-training. The Federal Aviation Agency will conduct an audit of the airplane.

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Boeing said on Wednesday that it fixed the stall-prevention software and plans to implement enhanced pilot training. But the FAA will need to approve the alterations before the plane can return to the air.