The last major airline crash occurred on March 10, 2019, when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max aircraft, crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, killing all 157 passengers and crew members on board. This tragedy was the second crash of a Boeing 737 Max within five months, following the Lion Air Flight 610 crash in Indonesia on October 29, 2018, which killed 189 people.
The Boeing 737 Max was grounded worldwide after the Ethiopian Airlines crash, as well as the Lion Air crash, were found to be linked to a faulty automated flight control system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). The system was designed to automatically adjust the plane’s angle of attack to prevent stalling, but a malfunction caused the MCAS to repeatedly push the nose of the plane down, leading to the crashes.
The crashes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 were both considered major airline accidents due to the high number of fatalities and the attention they received worldwide. They were also the deadliest crashes involving a Boeing 737 Max, a popular aircraft model used by airlines around the world.
Prior to the Boeing 737 Max accidents, the last major airline crash occurred on October 29, 2018, when Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia, killing all 189 people on board. The cause of the crash was also linked to a malfunction in the aircraft’s MCAS system.
While major airline crashes are relatively rare, they can have a significant impact on the aviation industry and public perception of air travel safety. In response to the Boeing 737 Max accidents, the aviation industry has increased its focus on safety and regulatory oversight, and Boeing has made significant changes to the design and operation of the MCAS system to prevent future accidents.
Overall, the aviation industry has made significant strides in improving safety over the past few decades, with major airline accidents becoming increasingly rare. However, the crashes of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Lion Air Flight 610 serve as a reminder that even with advanced technology and safety measures in place, aviation remains a complex and inherently risky activity.