FAA Finds More Faults On The Boeing 737 Max

Tests conducted on the Boeing 737 Max have revealed a new safety hazard, prompting US regulators to order additional design changes to the already grounded jetliner.

Pictured is a TUI Boeing 737 MAX. Photo: AeroNewsX/Paul Schmid

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) discovered that the data processing by a flight computer on the Boeing 737 Max could cause the aircraft to dive in a way that pilots would have difficulty recovering which simulator tests later confirmed.

While the issue did not involve the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) software which caused the crash of the Lion Air Flight 150 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, the new fault could produce an un-commanded dive similar to what occurred in the two crashes according to one of the simulator test pilot.

A Boeing spokesperson said that fixing the issues was the company's 'highest priority'.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged US regulators and other state Aviation safety authorities to align efforts to return the Boeing 737 Max to service, especially in areas of technical validation, timelines and pilot training.