The Boeing 737 MAX: Lessons for Engineering Ethics
BOEING'S DELIVERIES TOOK A HIT AFTER 737 MAX CRISIS The crashes of two 737 MAX passenger planes in late 2018 and early 2019, followed by the grounding of the entire 737 MAX fleet, cast a global focus on Boeing's policies and culture. Explanations for the crashes include design flaws in the MAX's new flight control software system, which is intended to prevent stalls; internal pressure to keep up with Boeing's main competitor, Airbus; Boeing's lack of transparency about the new software; and the FAA's inadequate monitoring of Boeing, particularly during the MAX's certification and following the first crash. WHY THIS EVENT? In this blog, we look at numerous facets of the case, including the technical and other issues that contributed to the crashes, including Boeing's design choices and internal organizational difficulties inside the corporation and between Boeing and the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While the case is still continui...