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| Boeing 737 Max messages raise safety questions | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The release of a batch of internal messages has raised more questions about the safety of Boeing's 737 Max. | The release of a batch of internal messages has raised more questions about the safety of Boeing's 737 Max. |
| In one of the communications an employee said the plane was "designed by clowns". | In one of the communications an employee said the plane was "designed by clowns". |
| The plane maker described the communications as "completely unacceptable". | The plane maker described the communications as "completely unacceptable". |
| The 737 Max was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed almost 350 people in total. | The 737 Max was grounded in March 2019 after two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia, which killed almost 350 people in total. |
| Boeing said it had released the hundreds of redacted messages as part of its commitment to transparency. | Boeing said it had released the hundreds of redacted messages as part of its commitment to transparency. |
| The Federal Aviation Administration and US Congress were given unredacted versions of the communications last month. | The Federal Aviation Administration and US Congress were given unredacted versions of the communications last month. |
| One unnamed employee wrote in an exchange of instant messages in April 2017: "This airplane is designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys." | One unnamed employee wrote in an exchange of instant messages in April 2017: "This airplane is designed by clowns who in turn are supervised by monkeys." |
| Another message dating from November 2015 appears to show how the company lobbied against the aviation regulator's calls for a certain aspect of simulator training. | Another message dating from November 2015 appears to show how the company lobbied against the aviation regulator's calls for a certain aspect of simulator training. |
| "We are going to push back very hard on this and will likely need support at the highest levels when it comes time for the final negotiation," the message said. | "We are going to push back very hard on this and will likely need support at the highest levels when it comes time for the final negotiation," the message said. |
| In February 2018, a Boeing worker asked a colleague: "Would you put your family on a Max simulator-trained aircraft? I wouldn't." | In February 2018, a Boeing worker asked a colleague: "Would you put your family on a Max simulator-trained aircraft? I wouldn't." |
| "No," came the reply. | "No," came the reply. |
| Timeline: Boeing crashes | Timeline: Boeing crashes |
| US House transportation committee chairman, Peter DeFazio - who has been investigating the 737 Max - said the communications "show a coordinated effort dating back to the earliest days of the 737 Max programme to conceal critical information from regulators and the public". | US House transportation committee chairman, Peter DeFazio - who has been investigating the 737 Max - said the communications "show a coordinated effort dating back to the earliest days of the 737 Max programme to conceal critical information from regulators and the public". |
| The FAA said: "Any potential safety deficiencies identified in the documents have been addressed." | The FAA said: "Any potential safety deficiencies identified in the documents have been addressed." |
| But the regulator added: "The tone and content of some of the language contained in the documents is disappointing." | But the regulator added: "The tone and content of some of the language contained in the documents is disappointing." |
| Boeing added that some of the messages "raise questions" about the company's interactions with the FAA around discussion about the simulator. | Boeing added that some of the messages "raise questions" about the company's interactions with the FAA around discussion about the simulator. |
| Boeing is redesigning the automated control system thought to have been the primary cause of the crashes. | Boeing is redesigning the automated control system thought to have been the primary cause of the crashes. |
| The company has temporarily stopped making the 737 Max. | The company has temporarily stopped making the 737 Max. |
| Last month, Boeing fired its chief executive Dennis Muilenburg. | Last month, Boeing fired its chief executive Dennis Muilenburg. |