The Boeing 737 Max 8 planes have come under much criticism following two fatal plane crashes. One of the plane crashes was in Indonesia in October, and the other came five months later in Ethiopia.
Airline pilots on two of these flights reported that the crashes might be related to an automated system that caused the plane to tilt down when on autopilot. In both cases, the planes recovered after the autopilot was turned off. Over 40 countries have banned the Boeing 737 Max 8. However, the U.S. continues to permit the Max 8 planes. American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines all operate Max planes and recently vouched for the safety of the Max 8 aircraft.
In one of the reports, the airline captain claimed that as soon as he put the plane on autopilot, an audio cockpit warning alarm sounded and the co-pilot began calling out “descending.” The captain claims there could have been an airspeed fluctuation caused by the weather system that disrupted the plane’s automation.
On another flight, after the co-pilot engaged the autopilot, the nose of the plane pitched downward, and the plane started descending, also triggering a “descending” warning. Once the captain turned off the autopilot, the plane started climbing. According to the statements of both pilots, the automated system of the Max 8 airplane was faulty.
Max 8 Airplane Concerns
Information from Indonesian investigators suggests that they are looking into the role of the plane’s automated anti-stall technology. They believe it was a factor in the Lion Air crash that took place in October shortly after the plane took off from Jakarta. The pilots of the Max 8 plane that crashed flying out of Jakarta experienced repeated nose-down warnings before they crashed into the Java Sea, killing 189 people.
Another pilot has complained that Boeing has not sufficiently informed pilots of the recent automation modifications. He also claimed the flight manual was not only inadequate but dangerously insufficient.
The FAA has not commented on any of these incidents but said it wasn’t aware of any reports of anti-stall system (MCAS) issues in the U.S. According to Boeing statements to the FAA and the airlines, the anti-stall system (MCAS) only activates when the autopilot is turned off.
American Airlines Denies Safety Issues in Plane Crashes
Ross Feinstein, the spokesman of American Airlines, stated he had not received any reported problems with the plane’s anti-stall technology. Leaders of the United Airline pilots union also claim the Max 8 had 23,000 hours of flights since last May with no mechanical or performance problems found. The group says that it is important that pilots stop interacting with the media and misleading people about these accidents.
Controversy over the safety of the Max 8 planes seemed to have ended until an Ethiopian airline Max 8 plane crashed after taking off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people aboard and resuming Max 8 plane investigations. Investigators review the information from the airplane black box to help determine the reason for an accident.
Plane Crash Lawyer
The majority of plane accidents result in the death of the passengers aboard. Regardless of the airline or the type of plane involved, those who have been injured or lost a loved one may be eligible to file an aviation accident lawsuit. The plaintiffs in these cases are entitled to compensation for any pain and suffering as well as other types of damage incurred. The airlines are usually held responsible in these types of lawsuits and can be held liable if there is a death or injury caused by a plane accident, plane crash, or failure of airplane equipment.
Airline Liability in Plane Crashes
Airlines provide a form of public transportation similar to other forms of transportation such as trains and buses. As with any form of public transportation, airlines are required to provide vehicles that are safe for public transportation and to get passengers to their destination safely. Safety requirements vary by state, but generally, an airline should provide satisfactory safety measures to prevent passengers from sustaining injury or death. Dangerous conditions are caused by negligence, mechanical failures, reckless/careless pilots, and other issues that cause dangerous passenger conditions, and can lead to a potential plane crash that warrants an investigation and lawsuit. There may also be accidents in the airport terminals where passengers enter and exit the planes or airfields that are not maintained properly. Standards of liability can be compared with industry standards to determine whether the employees of an airline or the airline itself handled their responsibilities in the best interest of the passengers and within the legal requirements necessary to provide a safe flight.
Causes of Airplane Crashes
There are various factors that could lead to a plane crash. Airplanes are complex machines and weather conditions can be unpredictable. However, it is the responsibility of the airline to ensure the safety of all of its passengers. Some common causes of plane crashes include:
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- Defective aircraft mechanics such as engine failures
- Defective aircraft technology or software
- Issues with communications
- Pilot errors
- Airplane sabotage and hijackers
- Negligent pilots and aircraft operators
- Poorly maintained aircraft
- Poor safety training and communications
- Intoxicated pilots
- Mid-air collisions
- Severe weather conditions
Airline Lawsuit – Plane Crash Lawyer
At KBA Attorneys, we believe the public transportation system owes it to passengers to arrive at each destination safely. If you or a loved has been injured in a plane crash, we have airline lawsuit lawyers available. Contact an Airline Lawsuit Lawyer today.
KBA Attorneys is committed to offering professional legal representation to victims and their families in the event of a plane crash. Contact KBA Attorneys, the personal injury airline lawsuit law firm. You may be eligible to file an airline lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible parties if you or your loved one was injured in a plane crash.
References
David Koenig and Michael Sisak. “Pilots Have Reported Issues In US With New Boeing Jet”, AP News, https://apnews.com/0cd5389261f34b01a7cbdb1a12421e27. Accessed April 1, 2019.