Boeing 737 Max Flies for First Time in Almost Two Years in U.S.
For the first time since March 2019, a Boeing 737 Max took to the skies. A 737 Max carried paying passengers on a U.S. flight Tuesday as American Airlines put the aircraft back in service.
American Flight 718 took off from Miami around 10:40 a.m., heading to New York’s LaGuardia Airport. The plane landed ahead of schedule, shortly after 1PM ET. American Airlines is the first U.S. carrier to return Boeing’s jetliner to passenger use.
The aircraft was grounded in the US and around the world, but received approval to start flying again last month, after changes Boeing has made to a flight-control system on the plane.
The 737 Max was grounded almost two years ago after two 737 Max planes crashed within five months. Boeing and the FAA faced criticism from lawmakers and some air safety experts. Investigations into the crashes and the Max’s development focused on an automated flight control system that was meant to prevent the aircraft from stalling.
American said it will accommodate any passengers who are worried about flying on a Boeing 737 Max. The provided the following statement in the press release:
“If a customer doesn’t want to fly on a 737 MAX aircraft, they won’t have to. In addition to the elimination of change fees for most customers announced in August 2020, in the immediate term, we’ll provide additional flexibility to ensure our customers can be easily re-accommodated if they prefer not to fly this aircraft type. And if their aircraft type ever changes to a 737 MAX, there is no end to the flexibility our customers will have to feel comfortable.”
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I personally do not want to fly on one. They will forever be tainted. These planes should have been shut down entirely, if for no other reason than out of respect for those who perished.
Its done and the bird is back in the air, let’s move on. If the press leaves it alone it will be forgotten and life goes on.
First I’ll say that I will indeed fly in the Max series if it’s the aircraft chosen for the route I’m flying.
With that being said, “…let’s move on…” is easily said by someone who isn’t the family of the 346 folks who perished in a very tragic way. Be it pilot error or a faulty aircraft designed by Boeing, it warrants attention and is certainly not a “…let’s move on..” situation in my opinion.
No side taken here just feel sorry for those who perished in both horrific events.