That Day, October 29, 2018. The time was 06:20. After checking all the pre-flight preparations, Captain Bhavye Suneja requested clearance from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Soekarno Hatta International Airport for takeoff.
ATC gave the go-ahead, and the Lion Air pilot of flight number JT-610 bound for Pangkal Pinang pushed the throttle. Carrying 181 passengers and 8 crew members, the plane was scheduled to arrive at its destination at 07:20.
At 06:33, or 13 minutes after takeoff, the plane suddenly lost contact. Search and rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the last known location. Supported by local witnesses, the rescue team brought grim news: Lion Air JT-610 had crashed into the sea, with no survivors found.
Five months later, Ethiopian Airlines flight number 302 met a similar fate, killing 157 passengers. Both tragedies, occurring in such close succession, shared a common factor: they involved the Boeing 737 Max 8 series.
A big question arose in everyone's minds. What caused this?
Disaster in the Cockpit
As the fourth generation, the Boeing 737 Max 8 was designed to compete with its rival, the Airbus A320neo. Unlike the regular Boeing 737, this series featured larger engines and greater capacity, better fuel efficiency, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Not only did it undergo hardware changes, but the Boeing 737 Max 8 also experienced software modifications, one of which was the installation of the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).
To help pilots quickly understand these changes and save costs, Boeing offered pilots quick computer-based training, without the need for classroom sessions or simulators.
Laura Einsetler, a pilot with over 30 years of flying experience, testified that she was not provided with adequate instruction or guidance on this new system. Pilots were left hoping for clear and good weather, she added.
Aware of the impending disaster, pilots voiced their concerns. However, Boeing's response did not satisfy them. It seemed Boeing left the pilots to find their own answers.
Until the disaster actually happened.
A joint investigation by authorities in Indonesia, Ethiopia, and the United States found a commonality: both Lion Air JT-610 and Ethiopian Airlines 302 experienced sudden nose dives.
The black box recording from Lion Air JT-610 showed data of drastic fluctuations in speed and altitude in quick succession, indicating a loss of pilot control. A thorough investigation revealed that the culprit behind both tragedies was the MCAS software.
MCAS was originally designed to protect the plane from dangerous maneuvers, such as a high nose position that could cause a stall or loss of lift. If the sensors detected this dangerous maneuver, MCAS would automatically push the nose down without allowing pilot intervention.
Ironically, in both tragedies, the MCAS sensors provided incorrect information. When MCAS directed the plane's nose down, the pilots struggled to bring it back to its original position.
This uncontrollable motion caused a fatal error in the cockpit system. With the plane's nose still down, the aircraft plunged at high speed before crashing.
What Happens Next?
After these tragic events that claimed a total of 346 lives, the victims' families filed lawsuits against Boeing. Following a protracted court process, in 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice found Boeing guilty.
This ruling was based on findings that Boeing had influenced and defrauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during the certification and quality control process of the Boeing 737 Max 8.
As a result, the Department of Justice ordered Boeing to pay $500 million in compensation to the victims' families.
However, as of today, not all families have received their compensation. An attorney for the victims' families stated that they would continue to pursue their claims until their clients' rights are fulfilled.
This tragedy serves as a lesson to all of us that no matter how advanced technology is, humans as its users must remain vigilant and never compromise on safety.
Hopefully, this tragedy won’t make you, Ladies, afraid of flying.
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