Boeing 737 Max approved for European skies after technical corrections

The British civil aviation authority was joined by the European Union Aviation Agency (EASA) in clearing the Boeing 737 MAX to occupy the European skies again around 22 months after the aircraft was grounded after two heavily fatal crashes. 

Patrick Ky, the director of EASA said, “Following extensive analysis by EASA, we have determined that the 737 MAX can safely return to service.”

The agency in a statement added, ” This assessment was carried out in full independence of Boeing or the (American) Federal Aviation Administration and without any economic or political pressure.”

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The aircraft was restricted after two major crashes in March 2019. The Lion Air crash in 2018 and the Ethiopian Airlines crash killed a total of 346 people. 

After the due investigations were completed on the incidents, a faulty Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, was identified as the main cause. The system, which is supposed to keep the aircraft from stalling, pulled the front downwards. 

More than 650 orders for the aircraft model were rolled back due to safety concerns after the two incidents. 

The aircraft manufacturer was ordered by the US Federal Aviation Administration to address the technical and safety concerns and instating new pilot training protocols, before being approved for service in November. 

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Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority also on Wednesday granted its approval for the 737 MAX to return to service.

The British Civil Aviation Authority said, “The UK Civil Aviation Authority has today announced that it will allow UK airlines to operate passenger flights with the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, subject to close oversight.”