Boeing Co. did not inform airline pilots about potential hazards associated with a new flight-control feature suspected to have played a role in a fatal plane crash in Indonesia last month, The Wall Street Journal reported.
About a week after the accident that killed all 189 people on board Lion Air Flight 610, Boeing told carriers about the automated stall-prevention system on Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 models.
However, neither airline managers nor pilots were aware that such a system had been added to the latest 737 variant, according to the paper, which cited safety experts involved in the investigation. Aviators were not prepared to cope with the possible risks, the Journal added.
The new systems were not highlighted in any training materials or during lengthy discussions between carriers and regulators about phasing in the latest 737 versions, one U.S. Federal Aviation Administration manager familiar with the process told the paper.
The feature in question is intended to help cockpit crews avoid mistakenly raising a plane's nose dangerously high. However, under "unusual conditions," the system can push the nose down unexpectedly and beyond the crew's control, which could result in a steep dive or crash, according to the report.
Boeing said in a statement Nov. 12 that the company is confident in the safety of the 737 MAX. "We are taking every measure to fully understand all aspects of this incident, working closely with the investigating team and all regulatory authorities involved."
The FAA said it will take action if findings from the accident investigation warrant, but declined to comment further.
