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Ethiopian Airlines crash: 'Pitch up, pitch up!' | Ethiopian Airlines crash: 'Pitch up, pitch up!' |
(2 days later) | |
Details have begun to emerge of the final moments of an Ethiopian Airlines flight which crashed three weeks ago. | Details have begun to emerge of the final moments of an Ethiopian Airlines flight which crashed three weeks ago. |
An anti-stalling system on the plane, a Boeing 737 Max, has been blamed for the disaster which killed all 157 people on board. | An anti-stalling system on the plane, a Boeing 737 Max, has been blamed for the disaster which killed all 157 people on board. |
Soon after take-off - and just 450ft (137m) above the ground - the aircraft's nose began to pitch down. | Soon after take-off - and just 450ft (137m) above the ground - the aircraft's nose began to pitch down. |
One pilot, according to the Wall Street Journal, said to the other "pitch up, pitch up!" before their radio died. | One pilot, according to the Wall Street Journal, said to the other "pitch up, pitch up!" before their radio died. |
The plane crashed only six minutes into its flight. | The plane crashed only six minutes into its flight. |
'Catastrophic failure' | 'Catastrophic failure' |
The Wall Street Journal - which says it has spoken to people close to the ongoing investigation - says the information it has "paints a picture of a catastrophic failure that quickly overwhelmed the flight crew". | |
Leaks this week from the crash investigation in Ethiopia and in the US suggest an automatic anti-stall system was activated at the time of the disaster. | Leaks this week from the crash investigation in Ethiopia and in the US suggest an automatic anti-stall system was activated at the time of the disaster. |
The Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) flight-control feature was also implicated in a fatal crash involving a Lion Air flight in Indonesia last October. | The Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) flight-control feature was also implicated in a fatal crash involving a Lion Air flight in Indonesia last October. |
The Boeing 737 Max went down shortly after take-off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. | The Boeing 737 Max went down shortly after take-off from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. |
An investigation of the Lion Air flight suggested the anti-stall system malfunctioned, and forced the plane's nose down more than 20 times before it crashed into the sea. | An investigation of the Lion Air flight suggested the anti-stall system malfunctioned, and forced the plane's nose down more than 20 times before it crashed into the sea. |
The Ethiopian authorities have already said there are "clear similarities" between the Lion Air incident and the Ethiopian Airlines crash. | The Ethiopian authorities have already said there are "clear similarities" between the Lion Air incident and the Ethiopian Airlines crash. |
The airline and authorities have refused to comment on leaks from the investigation. | The airline and authorities have refused to comment on leaks from the investigation. |
Concerns about the Boeing 737 Max have led to a worldwide grounding of the plane. | Concerns about the Boeing 737 Max have led to a worldwide grounding of the plane. |
System update | System update |
Boeing has redesigned the software so that it will disable MCAS if it receives conflicting data from its sensors. | Boeing has redesigned the software so that it will disable MCAS if it receives conflicting data from its sensors. |
As part of the upgrade, Boeing will install an extra warning system on all 737 Max aircraft, which was previously an optional safety feature. | As part of the upgrade, Boeing will install an extra warning system on all 737 Max aircraft, which was previously an optional safety feature. |
Neither of the two planes that were involved in the fatal crashes carried the alert systems, which are designed to warn pilots when sensors produce contradictory readings. | Neither of the two planes that were involved in the fatal crashes carried the alert systems, which are designed to warn pilots when sensors produce contradictory readings. |
The aircraft update is designed to ensure the MCAS will no longer repeatedly make corrections when a pilot tries to regain control. | The aircraft update is designed to ensure the MCAS will no longer repeatedly make corrections when a pilot tries to regain control. |
Boeing is also revising pilot training to provide "enhanced understanding of the 737 MAX" flight system and crew procedures. | Boeing is also revising pilot training to provide "enhanced understanding of the 737 MAX" flight system and crew procedures. |
Earlier this week, Boeing said that the upgrades were not an admission that the system had caused the crashes. | Earlier this week, Boeing said that the upgrades were not an admission that the system had caused the crashes. |
Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the accidents, but a preliminary report from Ethiopian authorities is expected within days. | Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the accidents, but a preliminary report from Ethiopian authorities is expected within days. |
Boeing has tried to restore its battered reputation, while continuing to insist the 737 Max is safe. | Boeing has tried to restore its battered reputation, while continuing to insist the 737 Max is safe. |