Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302

The aircraft was a new Boeing 737 MAX 8, with serial number 62450 and registered as ET-AVJ. It was manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in 2018 and was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines on 15 November and it had logged 1,330.3 airframe hours in 382 takeoff and landing cycles. It was also powered by two CFM International LEAP-1B28B1G05 engines.{{cite web |last=Ranter |first=Harro |title=ET-AVJ |url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/319474 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311060301/https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20190310-0 |archive-date=11 March 2019 |access-date=10 March 2019 |website=Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Flight Safety Foundation}}{{Cite web |title=Aircraft Accident Investigation Report B737-MAX 8, ET-AVJ December 2022 |url=https://bea.aero/fileadmin/user_upload/ET_302__B737-8MAX_ACCIDENT_FINAL_REPORT.pdf |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=bea.aero}}

In command was Captain Yared Getachew, aged 29, who had been flying with the airline for almost nine years{{cite web|last1=Bekele|first1=Kaleyesus|date=10 March 2019|title=Crashed ET plane captain alerted ATC about technical problem|url=https://www.thereporterethiopia.com/article/crashed-et-plane-captain-alerted-atc-about-technical-problem|access-date=12 March 2019|website=The Reporter Ethiopia}} and had logged a total of 8,122 flight hours, including 4,120 hours on the Boeing 737.{{efn|Yared had 4,120 hours on the Boeing 737 regardless of variant, but only 103 hours on the Boeing 737 MAX, while 4,017 hours were on the Boeing 737 Next Generation. Ethiopian names do not have family names, so Ethiopian people are addressed by their given names.|name=|group=}} He had been a Boeing 737-800 captain since November 2017, and flying Boeing 737 MAX since July 2018. At the time of the accident, he was the youngest captain at the airline.{{cite news|last1=Negroni|first1=Christine|date=12 March 2019|title=Ethiopian Airlines, With a Tradition of Training Pilots, Wants to Become Africa's Leading Carrier|website=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/business/ethiopian-airline-crash-school.html|access-date=12 March 2019}} The first officer, Ahmednur Mohammed, aged 25, was a recent graduate from the airline's academy with 361 flight hours logged, including 207 hours on the Boeing 737.{{efn|Ahmednur had 207 hours on the Boeing 737 regardless of variant, but only 56 hours on the Boeing 737 MAX. His remaining 151 hours were on the Boeing 737 Next Generation.|name=|group=}}

Flight 302 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. The aircraft took off from Addis Ababa at 08:38:00 local time (05:38:00 UTC) with 149 passengers and 8 crew on board.

Forty-four seconds after takeoff, as the main gear lifted off the runway, the angle of attack (AoA) sensor on the left side of the aircraft's nose sustained damage, possibly from a bird strike. This damage caused the sensor to send faulty readings, leading the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) to falsely detect an imminent stall. In response, MCAS repeatedly commanded the horizontal stabilizer to push the aircraft's nose downward. However, since MCAS is inactive during takeoff configuration, it only began functioning once the flaps were retracted.

Approximately one minute into the flight, the first officer, following the captain's instructions, retracted the flaps. Within 10 seconds of this action, the autopilot disengaged, and the aircraft started to descend. The captain directed the first officer to report a "flight control" problem to the control tower.{{Cite news |date=24 December 2022 |title=Etiopia conferma, errore software causò disastro Boeing 2019 |trans-title=Ethiopia confirms, software error caused 2019 Boeing disaster |url=https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/tecnologia/software_app/2022/12/24/etiopia-conferma-errore-software-causo-disastro-boeing-2019_91ca5d16-cc01-4042-84fc-b82d61c972fa.html |access-date=30 December 2022 |publisher=ANSA |language=it}}

By the second minute, the MCAS had angled the horizontal stabilizer sharply downward, pitching the aircraft into a dive. Although the pilots managed to briefly counteract the nose-down attitude, the aircraft continued to lose altitude.{{Cite news |last1=Gebrekidan |first1=Selam |last2=Glanz |first2=James |date=14 March 2019 |title=Boeing 737 Max Hit Trouble Right Away, Pilot's Tense Radio Messages Show |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/world/boeing-737-max-ethiopian-airlines.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315210038/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/world/boeing-737-max-ethiopian-airlines.html |archive-date=15 March 2019 |access-date=16 March 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

The first officer, correctly identifying that they were experiencing a runaway MCAS activation, called out "Stab trim cut-out!" The pilots toggled switches to disable the aircraft's electrical trim tab system, which also deactivated the MCAS software. Unlike previous 737 models, both switches disabled all electrical control of the stabilizer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeing-altered-key-switches-in-737-max-cockpit-limiting-ability-to-shut-off-mcas/|title=Boeing altered key switches in 737 MAX cockpit, limiting ability to shut off MCAS|date=10 May 2019|website=The Seattle Times}} Without the electric trim system, the other possible way to move the stabilizer is by cranking the trim wheel by hand, but because the stabilizer was located opposite to the elevator, strong aerodynamic forces were acting on it due to the pilots' inadequate thrust management. At the plane's high speed, there was further pressure on the stabilizer. The pilots' attempts to manually crank the stabilizer back into position failed.

Three minutes into the flight, with the aircraft continuing to lose altitude and accelerating beyond its safety limits, the captain instructed the first officer to request permission from air traffic control to return to the airport. Permission was granted, and the air traffic controllers diverted other approaching flights. Following instructions from air traffic control, they turned the aircraft to the east, and it rolled to the right. The right wing came to point down as the turn steepened.

About five minutes into the flight, having struggled to keep the plane's nose from diving further by manually pulling the yoke, the captain turned the electrical trim tab system back on in the hope that it would allow him to put the stabilizer back into neutral trim. However, in turning the trim system back on, he also reactivated the MCAS software, which reactivated nine seconds later and pushed the nose further down. The captain and first officer attempted to raise the nose by manually pulling their yokes, but the aircraft continued to plunge toward the ground, crashing 25 seconds after MCAS was reactivated and 34 seconds after the captain flipped the stab trim switches.

The aircraft disappeared from radar screens and crashed at 08:43:45, about six minutes after takeoff.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47513508|title=Ethiopian Airlines: 'No survivors' on crashed Boeing 737|work=BBC News |access-date=10 March 2019 |date=10 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310141704/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47513508|archive-date=10 March 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/ethiopian-airlines-flight-nairobi-crashes-deaths-reported-190310082515738.html |title=Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi crashes, deaths reported |website=www.aljazeera.com |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310091517/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/ethiopian-airlines-flight-nairobi-crashes-deaths-reported-190310082515738.html |archive-date=10 March 2019 |url-status=live}} Flight tracking data showed that the aircraft's altitude and rate of climb and descent were fluctuating.{{cite web |title=Flightradar24 data regarding the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 |url=https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/flightradar24-data-regarding-the-crash-of-ethiopian-airlines-flight-302/ |website=Flightradar24 Blog |date=10 March 2019 |access-date=11 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313032423/https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/flightradar24-data-regarding-the-crash-of-ethiopian-airlines-flight-302/ |archive-date=13 March 2019 |url-status=live }} Several witnesses stated the plane trailed "white smoke" and made strange noises before crashing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-witnesses-idUSKBN1QS1LJ|title=Ethiopian plane smoked and shuddered before deadly plunge|last=Miriri|first=Duncan|date=12 March 2019|work=Reuters|access-date=14 March 2019|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312052936/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-witnesses-idUSKBN1QS1LJ|archive-date=12 March 2019|url-status=live}} The aircraft impacted the ground at nearly {{Convert|700|mph|kn km/h}}.{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/what-passengers-experienced-on-the-ethiopian-airlines-flight.html|title=6 Minutes of Terror: What Passengers Experienced on Ethiopian Airlines Fl. 302|first=Jeff|last=Wise|date=9 April 2019|website=Intelligencer|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410152519/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/what-passengers-experienced-on-the-ethiopian-airlines-flight.html|archive-date=10 April 2019|url-status=live}} There were no survivors.{{cite news |url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/africa/ethiopian-airlines-flight-et302-crashes-en-route-to-kenya-1.835173 |title=Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 crashes en route to Kenya |work=The National |location=Addis Ababa |access-date=10 March 2019}}

It crashed in the (district of Gimbichu, Oromia Region,{{cite web|url=https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/corporate/media/media-relations/press-release/detail/1105|title=Honoring the Victims with Traditional Memorial Service|publisher=Ethiopian Airlines|date=22 March 2019|access-date=31 March 2019|quote=Local residents of Gimbichu Woreda (district), where ET 302/10 March accident happened,[...]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330183418/https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/corporate/media/media-relations/press-release/detail/1105|archive-date=30 March 2019|url-status=live}} in a farm field near the town of Bishoftu, {{convert|62|km|mi nmi}} southeast of Bole International Airport.{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/ethiopian-airlines-flight-crashes-fatalities-feared/articleshow/68343078.cms |title=Ethiopian Airlines flight crashes with 157 on board, fatalities feared |work=Times of India |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310160201/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/ethiopian-airlines-flight-crashes-fatalities-feared/articleshow/68343078.cms |archive-date=10 March 2019 |url-status=live }} The impact created a crater about {{convert|28|m|ft}} wide, {{convert|40|m|ft}} long, and wreckage was driven up to {{convert|10|m|ft}} deep into the soil. Wreckage was strewn around the field along with personal effects and body parts.{{Cite news|date=22 March 2019|title=Confusion, grief as hunt for remains from Ethiopia crash halted|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-bodies-idUSKCN1R31V4|access-date=20 August 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/ethiopian-airlines-boeing-737-max8-crash-190310125352109.html |title=Investigators at Ethiopian Airlines crash site look for answers |date=10 March 2019 |website=Al Jazeera |access-date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310170956/https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/ethiopian-airlines-boeing-737-max8-crash-190310125352109.html |archive-date=10 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

Shortly after the crash, police and a firefighting crew from a nearby Ethiopian Air Force base arrived and extinguished the fires caused by the crash.{{Cite news|last1=Watts|first1=Jonathan|last2=Burke|first2=Jason|date=10 March 2019|title=Ethiopian plane crash: inquiry to explore how 'excellent' pilot was unable to avert disaster|work=The Guardian|publisher=Africa correspondent and agencies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/10/ethiopian-airlines-says-kenya-flight-with-157-onboard-has-crashed|access-date=20 August 2019|issn=0261-3077}} Police cordoned off the site, and Ethiopian Red Cross personnel and air crash investigators moved in. Together with local villagers, they sifted through the wreckage, recovering pieces of the aircraft, personal effects, and human remains. Trucks and excavators were brought in to assist in clearing the crash site. Human remains found were bagged and taken to Bole International Airport for storage in refrigeration units typically used to store roses destined for export, before being taken to St. Paul's Hospital in Addis Ababa for storage pending identification.{{Cite news|date=15 March 2019|title=Excavators may be damaging Ethiopia crash site: diplomats|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-site-idUSKCN1QW2AD|access-date=20 August 2019}} Personnel from Interpol and Blake Emergency Services, a private British disaster response firm contracted by the Ethiopian government, arrived to gather human tissue for DNA testing, and an Israel Police forensics team also arrived to assist in identifying the remains of the two Israeli victims of the crash.{{Cite news|date=9 April 2019|title=Ethiopia Crash Victims' DNA Samples to Be Sent for London Tests|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-09/ethiopia-crash-victims-dna-samples-to-be-sent-for-london-tests|url-access=subscription|access-date=20 August 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-team-dispatched-to-ethiopia-crash-site-to-search-for-israelis-remains/|title=Police team dispatched to Ethiopia crash site to search for Israelis' remains|last=staff|first=T. O. I.|website=www.timesofisrael.com|language=en-US|access-date=20 August 2019}} The Chinese railway construction firm CRSG, later joined by another construction firm, CCCC, brought in large scale equipment including excavators and trucks. They recovered both flight recorders on 11 March, with the first being found at 9 am and the second flight recorder found at 1 pm.{{efn|East Africa Time}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9slH8UOO30|title=Chinese rescuers recover both flight recorders|date=12 March 2019|website=CCTV Plus/Youtube|language=en|access-date=27 August 2019}}{{Cite web|date=18 March 2019|script-title=zh:哀航七日：致那些未曾坠落的|trans-title=Seven days of mourning: To those who have never fallen|url=https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/o53yDveR5vA6UK7G1QXeCg|access-date=27 August 2019|website=WeChat Articles|language=zh-cn}} The black boxes were given to Ethiopian Airlines and were sent to Paris for inspection by the BEA, the French aviation accident investigation agency.{{Cite web|last=Evdokimova|first=Tamara|date=15 March 2019|title=Why Were Ethiopian Airlines' Black Boxes Sent to Paris for Examination?|url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/03/ethiopian-airlines-737-max-black-box-sent-to-paris-why.html|access-date=20 August 2019|website=Slate Magazine}}

The airline stated that the flight's 149 passengers had 35 different nationalities. Crash victim positive identification was announced on 13 September 2019. Nearly a hundred disaster victim identification (DVI) experts from 14 countries supported the Interpol Incident Response Team (IRT) mission.{{Cite web|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/civil-aviation/ethiopian-airlines-boeing-737-max-crash-victim-id-completed/|title=Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX crash victim ID completed|date=13 September 2019|website=defenceWeb|language=en-ZA|access-date=14 September 2019}}

All passengers and crew on board, 157 in total, were killed in the accident. Many of the passengers were travelling to Nairobi to attend the fourth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly.{{cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/world/africa/crashed-ethiopian-plane-carried-at-least-19-un-officials-20190311-p5138o.html |title=Crashed Ethiopian plane carried at least 19 UN officials |date=11 March 2019 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=11 March 2019}} A total of 22 people affiliated with the United Nations (UN) were killed, including seven World Food Programme staff, along with staff of the United Nations office in Nairobi, the International Telecommunication Union, and the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5550977/ethiopian-airlines-crash-victims-united-nations/|title=Colleagues Remember the Humanitarians Killed in the Ethiopian Airlines Crash|magazine=Time|language=en|access-date=20 August 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/3269480/12-vn-ers-onder-slachtoffers-crash-ethiopie|title=12 VN'ers onder slachtoffers crash Ethiopië|date=10 March 2019|work=De Telegraaf|language=nl|trans-title=12 United Nations among victims of crash in Ethiopia|access-date=11 March 2019}} The Deputy Director of Communications for the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO, two staff of General Electric,{{Cite web|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/nairobi/article/2001316036/names-of-32-kenyans-who-died-in-ethiopian-airlines-crash|title = Names of 32 Kenyans who died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash}} a retired Nigerian diplomat and senior UN official who was working on behalf of UNITAR, and a staff member of the Sudan office of the International Organization for Migration were also among the dead.{{Cite news|date=4 April 2019|title=Ethiopian Airlines: Who were the victims?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47522028|access-date=20 August 2019}}{{Cite web|title=We express our sincere condolences to the families and friends of Amb. Bashua|url=https://www.unitar.org/about/news-stories/news/we-express-our-sincere-condolences-families-and-friends-amb-bashua|access-date=20 August 2019|website=www.unitar.org|publisher=UNITAR}} The airline stated that one passenger had a United Nations laissez-passer.{{cite web |date=10 March 2019 |title=Accident Bulletin no. 3 Issued on March 10, 2019 at 4:59 PM |url=https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/corporate/media/media-relations/press-release/detail/1080 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310180520/https://www.ethiopianairlines.com/corporate/media/media-relations/press-release/detail/1080 |archive-date=10 March 2019 |access-date=12 March 2019 |website=Ethiopian Airlines }} The flight was nicknamed a "UN shuttle" as it connected the African Union headquarters as well as other UN offices in Addis Ababa to the United Nations Office at Nairobi, the organisation's headquarters in Africa.{{Cite news |url=https://people.com/human-interest/22-un-members-victims-ethiopian-airlines-crash/ |website=People |last=Pasquini |first=Maria |title=22 UN Staffers Among 157 Dead in Ethiopian Airlines Crash |date=11 March 2019 |access-date=26 November 2022 |quote=Among those killed on the flight were 22 United Nations staff members, according to CNN. The outlet went on to note that the flight has been nicknamed a “UN shuttle,” owing to its route between Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where the African Union headquarters are located, and Nairobi, Kenya, home of the UN's headquarters in Africa.}}{{cite web|access-date=10 November 2021 |title=Flight dubbed 'U.N. shuttle' that crashed had victims from many nations|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/dozens-of-countries-mourn-those-killed-in-ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash/|date=10 March 2019|website=The Seattle Times}}{{cite web|first1=Eliza|last1=Mackintosh|access-date=10 November 2021|title=UN staff and humanitarian workers among victims of Ethiopian Airlines crash|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/11/africa/ethiopian-airlines-un-victims-intl/index.html|date=11 March 2019|website=CNN}}{{Cite news|last1=Schemm|first1=Paul|last2=Fahim|first2=Kareem|last3=Noack|first3=Rick|date=11 March 2019|title='In deep grief': Aid workers, U.N. staff, tourists among victims in Ethiopia plane crash|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/aid-workers-particularly-hard-hit-in-ethiopian-crash/2019/03/11/680dbcf8-43e2-11e9-90f0-0ccfeec87a61_story.html?noredirect=on|url-status=live|url-access=subscription|access-date=16 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409153944/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/aid-workers-particularly-hard-hit-in-ethiopian-crash/2019/03/11/680dbcf8-43e2-11e9-90f0-0ccfeec87a61_story.html|archive-date=9 April 2019|issn=0190-8286}} The Addis Ababa-Nairobi route is also popular with tourists and business people. An employee of the Norwegian Red Cross, a British intern with the Norwegian Refugee Council, an environmental agent for the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators, four Catholic Relief Services staff, and a senior Ugandan police official on assignment with the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia were also killed.{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/mar/10/seven-britons-were-on-ethiopian-airlines-plane-that-crashed | title=Who were the victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash? | first1=Nadeem | last1=Badshah | first2=Kate | last2=Lyons | first3=Seth | last3=Jacobson | date=12 March 2019 | newspaper=The Guardian | access-date=18 August 2019 }}{{Cite news|date=12 March 2019|title=Prize-winning author, 21 U.N. workers among dead in Ethiopian Airlines crash|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-victims-idUSKBN1QS2AO|access-date=14 September 2020}}

Notable victims on-board included the Italian archaeologist and Councillor for Cultural Heritage of Sicily, Sebastiano Tusa,{{Cite web |last=Redazione |date=10 March 2019 |title=Disastro aereo, anche l'assessore regionale ai Beni Culturali Sebastiano Tusa nella lista passeggeri del volo precipitato in Etiopia |trans-title=Air disaster, the regional councilor for Cultural Heritage Sebastiano Tusa also on the passenger list of the flight that crashed in Ethiopia. |url=https://www.blogsicilia.it/palermo/disasro-aereo-anche-lassessore-regionale-ai-beni-culturali-sebastiano-tusa-nella-lista-passeggeri-del-volo-precipitato-in-etiopia/475003/ |access-date=22 January 2024 |website=BlogSicilia – Ultime notizie dalla Sicilia |language=it-IT}} and Nigerian-Canadian academic Pius Adesanmi.{{cite news |title=Ethiopian Airlines plane crashes, no survivors, says airline boss |url=https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-deaths-and-casualties-unconfirmed/news-story/bed7d1e1a89f6fc015fa795817b914d3 |newspaper=News.com.au |access-date=10 March 2019 |date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312082340/https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-deaths-and-casualties-unconfirmed/news-story/bed7d1e1a89f6fc015fa795817b914d3 |archive-date=12 March 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/10/breaking-nigeria%E2%80%99s-pius-adesanmi-killed-ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash|title=BREAKING: Nigeria's Pius Adesanmi Killed In Ethiopian Airlines Plane Crash|date=10 March 2019|website=Sahara Reporters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311090748/http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/10/breaking-nigeria%E2%80%99s-pius-adesanmi-killed-ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash|archive-date=11 March 2019|url-status=live|access-date=10 March 2019}} Slovak politician Anton Hrnko lost his wife and two children in the crash. Other notable victims included Christine Alalo, a Ugandan police commissioner and peacekeeper serving with the African Union Mission in Somalia.{{cite news |title=ETHIOPIAN: Police commissioner Alalo is dead |url=https://www.independent.co.ug/ethiopian-airlines-accident-police-commissioner-christine-alalo-confirmed-dead/ |access-date=5 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=11 March 2019 |location=Kampala, Uganda}}

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed offered his condolences to the families of the victims. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam visited the accident site, confirmed that there were no survivors and expressed sympathy and condolences.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2019/03/10/world/africa/ap-af-ethiopia-plane-crash-the-latest.html|title=The Latest: Norwegian Refugee Council Says 2 Missing|agency=Associated Press|date=10 March 2019|newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=10 March 2019|issn=0362-4331}} Boeing issued a statement of condolence.{{cite web |url=https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130401 |title=Boeing Statement on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 |work=Boeing |access-date=10 March 2019 |date=10 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190310121204/https://boeing.mediaroom.com/news-releases-statements?item=130401 |archive-date=10 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

The Ethiopian parliament declared 11 March as a day of national mourning.{{cite web|title=Ethiopia declares Monday a day of national mourning |url= http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ethiopia-declares-monday-a-day-of-national-mourning/|work = SABC News |date= 11 March 2019|access-date=11 March 2019}} During the opening of the fourth United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, a minute of silence was observed in sympathy for the victims.{{cite web|title=WATCH: Minute of silence for Ethiopia crash at UN talks as search operation continues|url=https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/watch-minute-of-silence-for-ethiopia-crash-at-un-talks-as-search-operation-continues-20190311|work=News24|access-date=11 March 2019|archive-date=24 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924161550/https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/watch-minute-of-silence-for-ethiopia-crash-at-un-talks-as-search-operation-continues-20190311|url-status=dead}} President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, in his condolence message on behalf of the government and the people of Nigeria, extended his sincere condolences to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, the people of Ethiopia, Kenya, Canada, China and all other nations who lost citizens in the crash.{{cite web |title=Ethiopian air crash: Loss of 157 lives shocking – Buhari |url=https://punchng.com/ethiopian-air-crash-loss-of-157-lives-shocking-buhari/ |website=punchng.com |date=10 March 2019 |access-date=12 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311090410/https://punchng.com/ethiopian-air-crash-loss-of-157-lives-shocking-buhari/ |archive-date=11 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

On 11 March, the FAA commented that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 model was airworthy. However, due to concerns on the operation of the aircraft, the FAA ordered Boeing to implement design changes, effective by April. It stated that Boeing "plans to update training requirements and flight crew manuals in response to the design change" to the aircraft's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). The changes will also include enhancements to the activation of the MCAS and the angle of attack signal.{{cite web|title=US says Boeing 737 MAX safe to fly after Ethiopia crash|url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-says-boeing-737-max-safe-to-fly-after-ethiopia-crash-11334256|work=Channel News Asia|access-date=12 March 2019|archive-date=9 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409170040/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-says-boeing-737-max-safe-to-fly-after-ethiopia-crash-11334256|url-status=dead}} Boeing stated that the upgrade was developed in response to the Lion Air crash but did not link it to the Ethiopian Airlines crash.{{cite news |last1=Toh |first1=Mavis |title=Boeing to upgrade 737 Max flight control software |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-to-upgrade-737-max-flight-control-software-456540/ |work=FlightGlobal |date=12 March 2019}}

On 19 March, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Elaine L. Chao, sent a memo to the U.S. Inspector General asking him to "proceed with an audit to compile an objective and detailed factual history of the activities that resulted in the certification of the Boeing 737-MAX 8 aircraft."{{cite web |title=Memorandum from the Secretary |url=https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/briefing-room/334391/memorandum-secretary-audit-certification-boeing-737-max8-2012-2017.pdf |publisher=US Department of Transportation |access-date=25 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320182645/https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/briefing-room/334391/memorandum-secretary-audit-certification-boeing-737-max8-2012-2017.pdf |archive-date=20 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

Flight International commented that the accident would likely increase unease about the Boeing 737 MAX felt in the aftermath of the Lion Air Flight 610 accident in October 2018, which similarly occurred shortly after take-off and killed everyone aboard.{{cite news |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ethiopian-crash-likely-to-aggravate-unease-over-737-456488/ |title=Ethiopian crash likely to aggravate unease over 737 Max |work=FlightGlobal |access-date=10 March 2019}} Boeing shares dropped 11% over the weekend;{{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/boeing-has-lost-dollar266b-in-market-value-since-sundays-737-max-crash/ar-BBUJzpA?o|title=Boeing has lost $26.6B in market value since Sunday's 737 Max crash|website=www.msn.com|access-date=13 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190316142804/https://www.msn.com/en-ca/money/topstories/boeing-has-lost-dollar266b-in-market-value-since-sundays-737-max-crash/ar-BBUJzpA?ocid=spartanntp|archive-date=16 March 2019|url-status=live}} by 23 March, Boeing had lost more than $40 billion in market value, dropping some 14% since the crash.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/23/investing/boeing-737-max-market-cap/index.html|title=Boeing has lost $40 billion-plus in market value since Ethiopia crash|last=Wattles|first=Jackie|website=CNN|date=23 March 2019|publisher=CNN Business|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326180403/https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/23/investing/boeing-737-max-market-cap/index.html|archive-date=26 March 2019|url-status=live|access-date=23 March 2019}}

{{Main|Boeing 737 MAX groundings|List of Boeing 737 MAX groundings}}

{{#section:List of Boeing 737 MAX groundings|summary}}

File:Adjustable stabilizer.svg

The Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA), the agency responsible for investigating civil aviation accidents in Ethiopia, investigated the accident. The aircraft manufacturer, Boeing, stated that it was prepared to work with the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and assist Ethiopian Airlines. The United States Federal Aviation Administration also assisted in the investigation.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/us-authorities-to-assist-in-investigation-of-ethiopian-airlines-crash-that-killed-157/2019/03/10/29b693ec-4349-11e9-8aab-95b8d80a1e4f_story.html |title=U. S. authorities to assist in investigation of Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed 157 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=10 March 2019 |date=10 March 2019 |first=Faiz |last=Siddiqui |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311012253/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/us-authorities-to-assist-in-investigation-of-ethiopian-airlines-crash-that-killed-157/2019/03/10/29b693ec-4349-11e9-8aab-95b8d80a1e4f_story.html |archive-date=11 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

Both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder were recovered from the crash site on 11 March.{{cite web|author1=McKirdy, Euan |author2=Berlinger, Joshua |author3=Levenson, Eric |title=Ethiopian Airlines plane crash|date=10 March 2019 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=11 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190311025818/https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash/index.html|archive-date=11 March 2019|url-status=live}} The French aviation accident investigation agency BEA announced that it would analyze the flight recorders from the flight.{{cite news |last1=Hepher |first1=Tim |title=France to analyze Ethiopian Airlines flight recorders: spokesman |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-france-bea/france-to-analyze-ethiopian-airlines-flight-recorders-spokesman-idUSKCN1QU2T7 |work=Reuters |access-date=14 March 2019 |date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314010303/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-france-bea/france-to-analyze-ethiopian-airlines-flight-recorders-spokesman-idUSKCN1QU2T7 |archive-date=14 March 2019 |url-status=live }} BEA received the flight recorders on 14 March.{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristykiernan/2019/03/15/the-black-boxes-from-ethiopian-flight-302-whats-on-them-and-what-investigators-will-look-for/|title=The Black Boxes From Ethiopian Flight 302: What's On Them And What Investigators Will Look For|last=Kiernan|first=Kristy|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=16 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315193026/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristykiernan/2019/03/15/the-black-boxes-from-ethiopian-flight-302-whats-on-them-and-what-investigators-will-look-for/|archive-date=15 March 2019|url-status=live}} On 17 March, Ethiopia's transport minister Dagmawit Moges announced that "the black box has been found in a good condition that enabled us to extract almost all the data inside" and that the preliminary data retrieved from the flight data recorder show a clear similarity with those of Lion Air Flight 610 which crashed off Indonesia.{{cite web |title=Data on Ethiopia crash: 'Clear similarity' to Indonesia crash |date=17 March 2019 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/17/ethiopia-plane-crash-boeing-1224259 |publisher=Politico |access-date=25 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327210152/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/17/ethiopia-plane-crash-boeing-1224259 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |url-status=live }}

On 13 March 2019, the FAA announced that new evidence found on the crash site and satellite data on Flight 302 suggested that the aircraft might have suffered from the same problem which the aircraft operating Lion Air Flight 610 had suffered from. Investigators discovered the jackscrew that controlled the pitch angle of the horizontal stabilizer of Flight 302, was in the full "nose down" position. The finding suggested that, at the time of the crash, Flight 302 was configured to dive, similar to Lion Air Flight 610.{{cite news|last1=Lazo|first= Luz|last2= Schemm|first2= Paul|last3= Aratani|first3= Lori|title=Investigators find 2nd piece of key evidence in crash of Boeing 737 Max 8 in Ethiopia|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/french-start-analysis-ethiopian-airlines-black-boxes-as-new-evidence-appears/2019/03/15/87770e8c-468f-11e9-94ab-d2dda3c0df52_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=16 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317203009/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/french-start-analysis-ethiopian-airlines-black-boxes-as-new-evidence-appears/2019/03/15/87770e8c-468f-11e9-94ab-d2dda3c0df52_story.html|archive-date=17 March 2019|url-status=live}} Due to this finding, some experts in Indonesia suggested that the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) should cooperate with Flight 302's investigation team.{{cite web|author=Mohammad Azka|title=Alasan KNKT Minta Dilibatkan Menginvestigasi Tragedi Ethiopian Airlines|url=https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20190313/98/899028/alasan-knkt-minta-dilibatkan-menginvestigasi-tragedi-ethiopian-airlines|publisher=Bisnis|language=id|access-date=14 March 2019|first=Rinaldi|date=13 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315185120/https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20190313/98/899028/alasan-knkt-minta-dilibatkan-menginvestigasi-tragedi-ethiopian-airlines|archive-date=15 March 2019|url-status=live|trans-title=Reasons NTSC Asked To Be Involved In Investigating Ethiopian Airlines Tragedy}} Later on the evening, the NTSC offered assistance to Flight 302's investigation team, stating that the committee and the Indonesian Transportation Ministry would send investigators and representatives from the government to assist with the investigation of the crash.{{cite web|author=Christy Rosana|url=https://bisnis.tempo.co/read/1185082/knkt-tawarkan-bantuan-investigasi-kecelakaan-ethiopian-airlines|publisher=Tempo|language=id|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315151459/https://bisnis.tempo.co/read/1185082/knkt-tawarkan-bantuan-investigasi-kecelakaan-ethiopian-airlines|archive-date=15 March 2019|title=KNKT Tawarkan Bantuan Investigasi Kecelakaan Ethiopian Airlines|access-date=14 March 2019|first=Fransisca|date=14 March 2019 |url-status=live|trans-title=NTSC Offers Ethiopian Airlines Accident Investigation Assistance}}

On 4 April 2019, the ECAA released the preliminary report on the crash.{{Cite web |date=4 March 2019 |title=Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau Preliminary Report |url=http://www.ecaa.gov.et/Home/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Preliminary-Report-B737-800MAX-ET-AVJ.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404163002/http://www.ecaa.gov.et/documents/20435/0/Preliminary+Report+B737-800MAX+%2C%28ET-AVJ%29.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2019 |access-date=4 April 2019 |publisher=Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport and Communications }} The preliminary report does not specifically mention MCAS but rather states "approximately five seconds after the end of the ANU (aircraft nose up) stabilizer motion, a third instance of AND (aircraft nose down) automatic trim command occurred without any corresponding motion of the stabilizer, which is consistent with the stabilizer trim cutout switches being in the "cutout" position".

Approximately one minute into the flight, an airspeed of {{convert|238|kn|km/h mph}} was selected. About 12 seconds later, the autopilot disengaged. The preliminary report asserts that the thrust remained at takeoff setting (94% N1) and the throttles did not move for the entire flight.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-05/six-minutes-to-disaster-ethiopian-air-pilots-battled-boeing-max |title=Six Minutes to Disaster: How Ethiopian Air's Pilots Battled the Boeing 737 Max |newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=5 April 2019 |access-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408233802/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-05/six-minutes-to-disaster-ethiopian-air-pilots-battled-boeing-max |archive-date=8 April 2019 |url-status=live }} In the next 30 seconds the stabilizer trim moved 4.2 degrees nose down, from 4.6 to 0.4 units.{{Cite web|url=https://leehamnews.com/2019/04/05/bjorns-corner-et302-crash-report-the-first-analysis/|title=Bjorn's Corner: ET302 crash report, the first analysis|last=Fehrm|first=Bjorn|date=5 April 2019|website=Leeham News and Analysis|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413193109/https://leehamnews.com/2019/04/05/bjorns-corner-et302-crash-report-the-first-analysis/|archive-date=13 April 2019|url-status=live|access-date=27 April 2019}} In the next 10 seconds the trim moved back up to 2.3 units as a result of pilot input and the pilots agreed on and executed the stabilizer trim cut-out procedure, cutting power to the trim motor operated by MCAS.

On 9 March 2020, the ECAA released an interim report on the crash. This report stated that the left and right angle of attack (AOA) values deviated by 59°. The AOA disagree message did not appear. The left minimum operating speed and left stick shaker speed was computed to be greater than the maximum operating speed without any invalidity detection. The pitch Flight Director bars disappeared then reappeared with left and right displaying different guidance. The left stick shaker activated. The nose-down trim (MCAS) triggered four times. The right over-speed clacker activated. On the third MCAS trigger there was no corresponding motion of the stabilizer, which is consistent with the stabilizer trim cutout switches being in the "cutout" position at that moment. The MCAS design relied on single AOA sensor inputs making it vulnerable to undesired activation. The difference training from B737NG to B737 MAX was inadequate.{{Cite web |date=9 March 2020 |title=Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau Interim Report |url=http://www.aib.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/documents/accident/ET-302%20%20Interim%20Investigation%20%20Report%20March%209%202020.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200310004955/http://www.aib.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/documents/accident/ET-302%20%20Interim%20Investigation%20%20Report%20March%209%202020.pdf |archive-date=10 March 2020 |access-date=10 March 2020 |publisher=Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport and Communications}}

{{Expand section|with=more details from the final report and the ECAA's analysis of the event are needed as this section is composed mostly of differing views|date=November 2024}}

On 23 December 2022, the ECAA released the final report in the crash, which stated:{{Cite web |date=23 December 2022 |title=Aircraft Accident Investigation Report B737- MAX 8, ET-AVJ December 2022 |url=http://avherald.com/files/ethiopian_b38m_et-avj_190310_final_report_20221226.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226181851/https://avherald.com/files/ethiopian_b38m_et-avj_190310_final_report_20221226.pdf |archive-date=26 December 2022 |access-date=26 December 2022 |publisher=Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Ministry of Transport and Communications |via=The Aviation Herald}}

{{Blockquote|text=Repetitive and uncommanded airplane-nose-down inputs from the MCAS due to erroneous AOA input, and its unrecoverable activation system which made the airplane dive with the rate of -33,000 ft/min [{{convert|-33,000|ft/min|m/s|disp=out}}] close to the ground was the most probable cause of the accident.}}

On 27 December 2022, the NTSB released its comments on the accident separately from the final report, saying that the Ethiopian authorities failed to include them in or append them to their report.{{Cite press release |title=NTSB Releases Comments on Ethiopia's Investigation of the Boeing 737 Max Accident |date=27 December 2022 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20221227.aspx}} The NTSB's comments read in part:{{Cite report |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Documents/US%20comments%20ET302%20Report%20March%202022.pdf |title=US Comments on Draft Aircraft Accident Investigation Report |date=March 2022 |publisher=National Transportation Safety Board |publication-date=27 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418023520/https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Documents/US%20comments%20ET302%20Report%20March%202022.pdf |archive-date=18 April 2023 |url-status=live}}

{{Blockquote|text=Overall, the US team concurs with the EAIB's investigation of the MCAS and related systems and the roles that they played in the accident. However, many operational and human performance issues present in this accident were not fully developed as part of the EAIB investigation. These issues include flight crew performance, crew resource management (CRM), task management, and human-machine interface. It is important for the EAIB's final report to provide a thorough discussion of these relevant issues so that all possible safety lessons can be learned.}}

The NTSB further detailed:

{{Blockquote|text=Appropriate crew management of the event, per the procedures that existed at the time, would have allowed the crew to recover the airplane even

when faced with the uncommanded nose-down inputs.}}

The BEA also submitted comments to the draft final report, in which it disagrees with some aspects of the Ethiopian findings, specifically regarding crew performance. The introduction to the BEA's comments reads in part:{{Cite report |url=http://aib.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/documents/accident/BEA-Comments-to-append.V-Finale.pdf |title=BEA Main Comments |publisher=BEA |access-date=3 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103134823/http://aib.gov.et/wp-content/uploads/2020/documents/accident/BEA-Comments-to-append.V-Finale.pdf |archive-date=3 January 2023}}

{{Blockquote|text=The BEA globally agrees with the analysis of the crew performance for phases 4 and 5 of the accident scenario. However, the BEA considers that some aspects of the analysis of the crew performance in the first phases of the flight are insufficiently developed and could improve the understanding of what could have been done by the crew which could have modified the outcome of the flight.}}The report continues in documenting the pilots' errors:

{{Blockquote|text=During the accident flight, the flight crew did not make appropriate use of the

associated applicable procedures on which he [sic] had received training in the preceding months.}}{{Blockquote|text=The Captain's attempts to engage AP was in contradiction with the Approach to Stall or Stall Recovery maneuver check list, which was expected to be applied in reaction to the stick shaker activation.}}{{Blockquote|text=Degradation of the CRM which started immediately after the AOA vane failure and which didn't help the crew take the necessary actions to keep the plane under control although they had received an adequate recurrent training on situations that occurred in the accident flight.{{what|date=October 2024}}}}

{{Main|Reactions to the Boeing 737 MAX groundings}}

Ethiopian Airlines said MCAS was "to the best of our knowledge" active when the aircraft crashed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/03/26/737_crash_update/|title=Ethiopian Airlines boss confirms suspect flight software was in use as Boeing 737 Max crashed|last=Thomson|first=Iain|website=www.theregister.co.uk|access-date=6 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/03/ethiopian-airlines-ceo-boeing-flight-system-may-have-triggered-crash/|title=Ethiopian Airlines flight's stall-prevention software was active at crash, CEO says|last=Gallagher|first=Sean|date=25 March 2019|website=Ars Technica|language=en-us|access-date=6 May 2019}} According to Ethiopian transport minister Dagmawit Moges, the crew "performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft".{{Cite news |first1=Gwyn |last1=Topham |first2=Dominic |last2=Rushe |title=Boeing report: pilots followed guidance but could not control Ethiopian plane |date=4 April 2019 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/apr/04/ethiopian-airlines-crash-pilots-followed-procedure-report-finds |access-date=24 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=Ethiopian Airlines crew 'followed rules, unable to control jet'|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/ethiopian-airlines-crew-rules-unable-control-jet-190404085011792.html|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=4 April 2019|access-date=5 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405003942/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/ethiopian-airlines-crew-rules-unable-control-jet-190404085011792.html|archive-date=5 April 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/reuters-america-update-3-ethiopia-urges-boeing-to-review-controls-backs-pilots.html|title=UPDATE 3-Ethiopia urges Boeing to review controls, backs pilots|date=4 April 2019|website=www.cnbc.com|access-date=6 May 2019|archive-date=6 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506020921/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/04/reuters-america-update-3-ethiopia-urges-boeing-to-review-controls-backs-pilots.html|url-status=dead}} Bjorn Fehrm from Leeham News stated the preliminary report confirms "the Flight Crew followed the procedures prescribed by FAA and Boeing in Airworthiness Directive 2018-23-51", released shortly after the Lion Air crash.

Boeing's CEO Dennis Muilenburg said on 29 April that if "you go through the checklist...it calls out actions that would be taken around power management and pitch management of the airplane. It also refers to the cutout switches, that after an activation that was not pilot-induced, that you would hit the cutout switches. And, in some cases, those procedures were not completely followed".{{Cite web|url=https://www.inc.com/peter-economy/boeing-ceo-puts-partial-blame-on-pilots-of-crashed-737-max-aircraft-for-not-completely-following-procedures.html|title=Boeing CEO Puts Partial Blame on Pilots of Crashed 737 MAX Aircraft for Not 'Completely' Following Procedures|last=Economy|first=Peter|date=30 April 2019|website=Inc.com|access-date=6 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-boeing-ceo-defends-mcas-and-addresses-pilo-457769/|title=ANALYSIS: Boeing CEO defends MCAS and addresses pilot procedures|last=Hemmerdinger|first=Jon|date=29 April 2019|website=Flightglobal.com|language=en-GB|access-date=6 May 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Sinéad |title=Boeing's CEO said pilots did not 'completely' follow emergency procedures during Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max disaster, contradicting investigators |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-max-properly-designed-pilots-did-not-completely-follow-procedure-different-investigators-2019-4 |website=Business Insider |access-date=4 May 2019 |date=30 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502195317/https://www.businessinsider.com/boeing-737-max-properly-designed-pilots-did-not-completely-follow-procedure-different-investigators-2019-4 |archive-date=2 May 2019 |url-status=live }}

A data spike in the flight data led to speculations about a bird or other debris hitting the plane as it was taking off, shearing away the airflow sensor. These speculations were dismissed by Ethiopian Airlines, and Chief investigator Amdye Ayalew Fanta stated there was no indication of such damage.{{cite news |last1=Levin |first1=Alan |last2=Johnsson |first2=Julie |last3=Schlangenstein |first3=Mary |title=Ethiopia Crash Mystery Deepens: Pilots Initiated Boeing Protocol |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-03/ethiopian-air-pilots-said-to-follow-protocol-on-737-max-flight |access-date=10 April 2019 |publisher=Bloomberg |date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405105203/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-03/ethiopian-air-pilots-said-to-follow-protocol-on-737-max-flight |archive-date=5 April 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=British newspaper Mirror reports Ethiopian jet crash caused by bird-strike |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001319486/british-newspaper-reports-ethiopian-jet-crash-caused-by-bird-strike |access-date=10 April 2019 |date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410170119/https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001319486/british-newspaper-reports-ethiopian-jet-crash-caused-by-bird-strike |archive-date=10 April 2019 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/21/boeing-shares-rise-after-report-that-a-bird-strike-may-have-caused-737-max-crash.html|title=US aviation officials think a bird strike was factor in 737 Max crash|last=Josephs|first=Leslie|date=21 May 2019|website=CNBC|language=en|access-date=22 May 2019}}

On 25 April, The Aviation Herald submitted 25 questions that have arisen in the aftermath of the accident to the FAA's Flight Standardization Board (FSB) regarding their draft for certification of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.{{Cite web|url=http://avherald.com/h?article=4c534c4a/0052&opt=0|title=Crash: Ethiopian B38M near Bishoftu on Mar 10th 2019, impacted terrain after departure|website=avherald.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501153704/http://avherald.com/h?article=4c534c4a/0052&opt=0|archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=live|access-date=4 May 2019}} Earlier, it stated that a copy of the version of section 2.6 of the Flight Operations Manual, "Operational Irregularities", in use by Ethiopian Airlines at the time of the crash was dated 1 November 2017 and did not include material from the Operator's Bulletin issued by Boeing on 6 November 2018.

Based on the preliminary report, The Aviation Herald comes to the conclusion: "Neither of the three crews" (JT-43, JT-610, ET-302) "would have been forced to react under time pressure in order to prevent a crash, [...] without the technical malfunctions [of the angle of attack sensors] and the nose down trim inputs."

According to The Air Current aviation journal and The Seattle Times, the preliminary report shows that while the pilots initially followed the correct procedure to disable runaway trim, they did not complete the checklist fully, and consequently, the recovery effort did not succeed.{{Cite web|url=https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/vestigal-design-issue-clouds-737-max-crash-investigations/|title=Vestigial design issue clouds 737 Max crash investigations|date=4 April 2019|website=The Air Current|language=en-US|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427032412/https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/vestigal-design-issue-clouds-737-max-crash-investigations/|archive-date=27 April 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/boeings-emergency-procedure-for-737-max-may-have-failed-on-ethiopian-flight/|title=Why Boeing's emergency directions may have failed to save 737 MAX|date=3 April 2019|website=The Seattle Times|language=en-US|access-date=15 May 2019}} Pilots have demonstrated in simulators that the trim wheels cannot be moved in severe mis-trim conditions combined with a high airspeed.{{Cite web|url=https://leehamnews.com/2019/04/03/et302-used-the-cut-out-switches-to-stop-mcas/|title=ET302 used the Cut-Out switches to stop MCAS|last=Bjorn|first=Fehrm|date=3 April 2019|website=Leeham News and Analysis|language=en-US|access-date=9 May 2019}} As the pilots on Flight 302 pulled on the yoke to raise the nose, the aerodynamic forces on the tail's elevator would create an opposing force on the stabilizer trim jackscrew that would prevent the pilots from moving the trim wheel by hand.{{cite news |last1=Hepher |first1=Tim |last2=Johnson |first2=Eric |last3=Freed |first3=Jamie |title=How excess speed, hasty commands and flawed software doomed an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-reconstruction-insi/how-excess-speed-hasty-commands-and-flawed-software-doomed-an-ethiopian-airlines-737-max-idUSKCN1RH0FJ |access-date=6 April 2019 |work=Reuters |date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406041224/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-reconstruction-insi/how-excess-speed-hasty-commands-and-flawed-software-doomed-an-ethiopian-airlines-737-max-idUSKCN1RH0FJ |archive-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.satcom.guru/2019/04/stabilizer-trim-loads-and-range.html|title=Trim Cutout with Severe Out-of-Trim Stabilizer can be difficult to recover|last=Lemme|first=Peter|date=2 April 2019|work=Satcom Guru}}

The Air Current reported that the resolution for this jammed trim issue was not part of Boeing's then-current 737 manual. The Seattle Times reported that pilots on the 737-200 were trained for this failure, but later models became so reliable that Boeing had dropped mention of this procedure, deeming it no longer necessary for the 737.

Experts theorize that the difficulty to trim made it necessary for the flight crew to release the cutout, and try to use electronic trim in an effort to correct the out-of-trim configuration.{{Cite web|url=https://www.satcom.guru/2019/04/what-happened-on-et302.html|title=What happened on ET302?|last=Lemme|first=Peter|work=Satcom Guru}} According to Bjorn Fehrm (Leeham News) and Peter Lemme at this time the airplane was flying "at 375kts and MCAS was never designed to trim at these Speed/Altitude combinations".

John Cox, a former 737 pilot and pilots' union safety representative, and Chesley Sullenberger, who successfully ditched US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River, both did flight simulator replications of Flight 302. Cox described the rapid onset of unforeseen events as a "...breeding ground for confusion and task saturation." Sullenberger commented that "Even knowing what was going to happen, I could see how crews would have run out of time and altitude before they could have solved the problems."{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-06-20/fight-for-survival-on-doomed-jet-came-down-to-two-cockpit-wheels|title=Fight for Survival on Doomed Jet Came Down to Two Cockpit Wheels|date=14 July 2019|access-date=15 July 2019|language=en}} While defending the pilots' actions, Sullenberger was also highly critical of allowing someone with only 200 hours of flight experience to be first officer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/hero-pilot-who-landed-plane-in-hudson-river-blasts-pilot-training-in-wake-of-ethiopian-airlines-crash|title=Hero 'Miracle on the Hudson' pilot blasts 'absurd' lack of training in wake of fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash|last=Joyce|first=Kathleen|date=15 March 2019|website=Fox News|language=en-US|access-date=15 July 2019}}

• The crash was mentioned in the 21st season of the TV series Mayday in an episode entitled "Grounded: Boeing Max 8".{{Cite episode|title=Grounded: Boeing Max 8|series=Mayday|station=National Geographic Channel|season=21|language=en|number=4}}{{Cite web|date=5 April 2021|title=Air Crash Investigation {{!}} National Geographic|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/television-schedule#schedule=ngc/04/05/2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406230859/https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/television-schedule#schedule=ngc/04/05/2021|archive-date=6 April 2021|access-date=7 April 2021|website=www.nationalgeographic.co.uk}} It was covered later in the series' 24th season in the 10th episode entitled "Deadly Directive".{{Cite web |last=TV |first=NatGeo |title=National Geographic – Air Crash Investigation |url=https://www.natgeotv.com/za/shows/natgeo/air-crash-investigation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224103317/https://www.natgeotv.com/za/shows/natgeo/air-crash-investigation |archive-date=24 February 2024 |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=www.natgeotv.com |language=en}}
• In February 2022, Netflix released Downfall: The Case Against Boeing, a documentary about the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 plane crashes.{{cite news |first=Richard |last=Roeper |author-link=Richard Roeper |title='Downfall': Chilling documentary makes a case that Boeing's greed cost hundreds of lives |date=17 February 2022 |work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/movies-and-tv/2022/2/17/22936474/downfall-review-netflix-boeing-documentary-737-max-rory-kennedy |access-date=25 April 2025}}
• In September 2022, Amazon Prime released Flight/Risk, a feature documentary about the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes.{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.664d802a-2ac2-4bf7-b7a1-d93148587898|title= Flight/Risk|website=Amazon |date=8 September 2022 |access-date=27 December 2022|language=en}}

• Ethiopian Airlines accidents and incidents
• Lion Air Flight 610 – the other Boeing 737 MAX accident which occurred four months prior having similar problems as well.
• Boeing 737 MAX groundings

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |last= Robison |first= Peter |year= 2021 |title= Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing |location= New York |publisher= Doubleday |type= Hardcover |isbn= 978-0-385-54649-2}}

• {{cite web |url= https://avherald.com/files/ethiopian_b38m_et-avj_190310_final_report_20221226.pdf|title= Final Report – Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau |date= 23 December 2022 |publisher= Ministry of Transport (Ethiopia) }}
• {{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/sd9LGK2S9m/battle_over_blame|title=Battle over blame – Ethiopian Airlines rejects accusations of pilot error|author=Leggett|first1=Theo|last2=Browning|first2=Simon|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=16 June 2019}}

Analysis of preliminary report: timeline and human factor

• {{cite news |url= http://visualapproach.io/et302-even-without-answers-the-data-tells-a-story/ |title= Ethiopian 302 – Even Without Answers, The Data Tells a Story |date= 5 April 2019 |website= Visual Approach (Courtney Miller) }}
• {{cite news |url= https://leehamnews.com/2019/04/05/bjorns-corner-et302-crash-report-the-first-analysis/ |title= ET302 crash report, the first analysis |date= 5 April 2019 |publisher= Leeham News and Analysis (Bjorn Fehrm) }}

Difficulty to trim

• {{cite video |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoNOVlxJmow&t=734 |title= Boeing 737 Unable to Trim Cockpit video (Full flight sim) |date= 19 April 2019 |via= YouTube }} — 737NG simulator demonstration of the difficulty to trim in an out-of-trim situation similar to the accident.
• {{cite news |url= https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/vestigal-design-issue-clouds-737-max-crash-investigations/ |title= Vestigial design issue clouds 737 Max crash investigations |website= The Air Current (Jon Ostrower) |date= 4 April 2019}} — Graphical illustration of the trim issue.

Summary of the 737 Max crashes

• {{cite video |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2tuKiiznsY |title= The real reason Boeing's new plane crashed twice |publisher= Vox Videos |date= 15 April 2019 |via= YouTube }}
• {{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/boeing_two_deadly_crashes |title= What went wrong inside Boeing's cockpit? |work= BBC News |date= 17 May 2019 }}

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