Boeing expresses regret over ex-pilot's messages on 737 MAX software

By Eric M. Johnson and David Shepardson

 

The Boeing logo is pictured at the Latin American Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition fair (LABACE) at Congonhas Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil August 14, 2018. Picture taken August 14, 2018. REUTERS/Paulo Whitaker

 

SEATTLE/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co <BA.N> said on Sunday that it regrets and understands concerns raised by the release of a former Boeing test pilot's internal instant messages noting erratic software behavior two years before deadly crashes of its 737 MAX jet.

 

The world's largest planemaker, plunged into a fresh crisis over the safety of the banned 737 MAX after Reuters reported the messages on Friday, also said it was investigating the "circumstances of this exchange" and regretted the difficulties that the release of messages presented for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

 

The FAA on Friday ordered Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg to give an "immediate" explanation for the delay in turning over the "concerning" document, which Boeing discovered some months ago.

 

In the messages from November 2016, then-chief technical pilot Mark Forkner tells a colleague the so-called MCAS anti-stall system - the same one linked to deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia - was "running rampant" in a flight simulator session.

 

At another point he says: "I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)."

 

The messages prompted a new call in Congress for Boeing to shake up its management as it scrambles to rebuild trust and lift an eight-month safety ban of its fastest-selling plane.

 

"We understand entirely the scrutiny this matter is receiving, and are committed to working with investigative authorities and the U.S. Congress as they continue their investigations," Boeing said in its statement on Sunday.

 

The instant messages prompted harsh reactions from several Democratic lawmakers in Washington, with Representative Peter DeFazio saying, "This is no isolated incident."

 

"The outrageous instant message chain between two Boeing employees" suggests "Boeing withheld damning information from the FAA," DeFazio, who chairs the U.S. House Transportation Committee, said on Friday.

 

Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg, who was stripped of his chairman title by the company's board nine days ago, is set to testify before the committee on Oct. 30.

 

DeFazio's committee also obtained details of a 2016 Boeing survey that found nearly 40% of 523 employees handling safety certification work perceived "potential undue pressure" from managers, such as bullying or coercion.

 

Other top concerns include "schedule pressure" and "high workload," though 90% of the employees said they were comfortable raising concerns about "undue pressure" to management, according to a copy of the Boeing presentation of the survey results seen by Reuters on Sunday.

 

The presentation was obtained by the committee's investigators and not among a trove of documents handed over the committee by Boeing itself, a person briefed on the matter said.

 

Evidence of "undue pressure" was also pinpointed by a group of international regulators reviewing the 737 MAX certification.

 

BOARD MEETING

Boeing's statement was released as its board of directors and top executives from its airplanes division and supply chain gathered in San Antonio, Texas for previously scheduled meetings on Sunday and Monday.

 

The board meetings come as pressure mounts on Chicago-based company not only from the regulatory and criminal investigations stemming from the crashes but also from the financial burden caused by the jet's safety ban and continued high production.

 

Several industry sources said there was speculation inside the company of significant job cuts as Boeing, unable to deliver 737 MAX planes to customers, continues to experience a cash drain. The 737 production rate may also have to come down if regulators further delay the MAX's return to service, the people said.

 

After business hours on Thursday, Boeing turned over the instant messages to the FAA after having them for months. Boeing had turned them over to the Justice Department in February - before the crash of a second 737 MAX in Ethiopia in March, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday.

 

A second person briefed on the matter said that Boeing CEO Muilenburg told FAA Administrator Steve Dickson during a 25-minute phone call on Friday that the company did not believe it could turn the messages over initially because of the Justice Department probe, an argument Dickson rejected citing safety issues.

 

On Sunday, Boeing said it has not been able to speak to Forkner directly about his understanding of the document.

 

"He has stated through his attorney that his comments reflected a reaction to a simulator program that was not functioning properly and that was still undergoing testing," Boeing said.

 

Reuters also reported on Friday that Forkner was grappling with a number of software problems with the flight simulator itself, according to a former Boeing test pilot who analyzed the transcript and who had direct knowledge of the flight simulator at the time.

 

(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru and Eric M. Johnson in Seattle; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-21

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who cares about passengers' life if big money is at stake?

Some people need to do serious jail time. 100's died because of Boeing greed and FAA  negligence.  Funny how when financial analysts like Cramer get caught schilling unworthy  stocks they always play the victim.

 

 

 

"A Thai Airways Boeing 777 suffered an uncontained engine failure in the early hours of yesterday morning. The aircraft was not airborne at the time, and as such abandoned its takeoff attempt."

simpleflying.com/thai-uncontained-engine-failure/

 

Greedy airline that outsources its operations to India and cuts corners at home, all while feasting off defense contracts. Only "little people" die in their air crashes, so they don't care.

What we're trying to say, is this. Basically, Boeing (the Americans) are not as good as Airbus (the Europeans) .

Boeing is an aeroplane company that Americans themselves don't believe in. Why on earth should Europeans trust Boeing when Americans themselves don't feel good and safe about Boeing ?


And indeed, Thailand, India, Australia, Japan, etc, they should all buy Airbus and not Boeing.

We regret that we f%$#$ up and killed your friends and relatives. But you know, business is business and we have our priorities.

 

And let's not forget that all this happens in the so called first word country, the USA. Disgusting!

 

16 hours ago, pegman said:

Some people need to do serious jail time. 100's died because of Boeing greed and FAA  negligence.  Funny how when financial analysts like Cramer get caught schilling unworthy  stocks they always play the victim.

Wow. Watching that video, you would think that Cramer found his wife in bed with the Boeing CEO. What a cry baby.