March 10, 2019

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board. This incident led to the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Ethiopian Airlines

Watercolor painting based depiction of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 people on board. This incident led to the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet. (2019)

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Crash

Overview

On March 10, 2019, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, tragically crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport in Ethiopia. The flight was en route to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, Kenya. All 157 people on board, including passengers and crew from over 30 different countries, lost their lives in this devastating incident.

Key Details

  • Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
  • Operator: Ethiopian Airlines
  • Flight Number: ET302
  • Date: March 10, 2019
  • Departure: Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia
  • Destination: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Fatalities: 157 (149 passengers and 8 crew members)

Sequence of Events

  1. Takeoff: The flight took off at 08:38 local time. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft began experiencing erratic flight patterns.
  2. Distress Call: The pilot reported difficulties and requested to return to the airport.
  3. Crash: At 08:44, just six minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed near the town of Bishoftu, approximately 40 miles southeast of Addis Ababa.

Investigation and Findings

The investigation into the crash revealed that the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a flight control system designed to prevent stalls, was activated erroneously due to faulty sensor data. This system repeatedly forced the plane’s nose down, despite the pilots’ efforts to regain control.

Aftermath and Global Impact

  • Grounding of Boeing 737 MAX Fleet: In the wake of the crash, aviation authorities worldwide grounded the Boeing 737 MAX fleet. This decision was influenced by the similarities between this crash and the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia, which occurred in October 2018 and involved the same aircraft model.
  • Boeing’s Response: Boeing faced intense scrutiny and criticism. The company worked on software updates and improvements to the MCAS system and underwent extensive recertification processes.
  • Regulatory Changes: The incident prompted a reevaluation of aircraft certification processes and increased focus on pilot training and aircraft safety systems.

Broader Historical Significance

The Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash had significant implications for the aviation industry, highlighting the critical importance of software reliability and pilot training in modern aircraft. It also underscored the need for transparency and accountability in aircraft manufacturing and regulatory practices. The grounding of the 737 MAX fleet marked one of the most extensive aviation groundings in history, affecting airlines and passengers worldwide.

The tragedy served as a somber reminder of the potential consequences of technological failures and the ongoing need for rigorous safety standards in aviation.

Source: www.bbc.com

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