Trump, Cruz Want Boeing 737 Max 8 Grounded After Fatal Crashes

  |  
Mar 12, 2019
Trump Cruz 737 Max 8

President Donald J. Trump and Senator Ted Cruz have both voiced concerns about the Boeing 737 Max 8 after two of the planes crashed within five months.

Two of Boeing’s 737 Max 8 airplanes have crashed in the last five months, with the tragic crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight marking the second crash on March 10. As countries around the world begin to ground the airplane until its safety can be ensured, the United States has not yet joined them, though the Texas senator and President Trump may see this changed soon.

Cruz released a statement calling for the grounding of the aircraft until additional tests can be performed by the FAA to determine the reason for the crashes.

From Cruz’s statement:

“In light of the decisions of regulatory agencies across the world to ground the Model 737 Max, including those in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Australia, and other countires, I believe it would be prudent for the United States likewise to temporarily ground 737 Max aircraft until the FAA confirms the safety of these aircraft and their passengers. Further investigation may reveal that mechanical issues were not the cause, but until that time, our first priority must be the safety of the flying public.”

“As chairman of the Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, I intend to hold a hearing to investigate these crashes, determine their contributing factors, and ensure that the United States aviation industry remains the safest in the world.”

Earlier in the day, President Trump echoed these sentiments on Twitter, complaining about the automated systems employed in new aircraft like the 737 Max 8, writing that “Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT.”

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105468569800839169

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105471621672960000

Thus far, Boeing has no plans to ground the aircraft itself, and released a statement stressing that it thoroughly tested the planes and that safety is the company’s top priority. It noted that “based on the information currently available, we do not have any basis to issue new guidance to operators.”

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