A U.S. campaign group, the Foundation for Aviation Safety, has accused Boeing of hiding critical information about electrical problems on a 737 Max aircraft that crashed in Ethiopia in 2019.
The group claims that the plane, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, had experienced several issues, including an “uncommanded roll” at low altitude.
The Foundation alleges that over 1,000 planes currently in service might be at risk of similar electrical failures due to production flaws. The aircraft involved in the Ethiopian crash was a new 737 Max model, the second of its kind to be involved in a fatal accident following a previous crash in Indonesia in 2018.
A Boeing spokesperson responded, stating that the company “fully cooperated and provided relevant information” during the investigation of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash, deferring further comment to the investigative agencies. Both crashes were mainly attributed to a malfunctioning flight control system that activated at the wrong time due to a sensor failure.
The Foundation for Aviation Safety has published documents on its website, allegedly leaked by Boeing employees, which detail problems during the manufacturing process. These documents suggest that the plane had issues such as missing electrical parts, improperly installed wiring, and a rushed production schedule that led to defective parts.
One document reportedly describes an incident three weeks after the aircraft was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines, where it suffered an “uncommanded roll” while preparing to land, which was later linked to faulty wiring.
The Foundation claims these documents were hidden from government authorities, law enforcement, airline customers, victims’ families, and the public. They argue that this concealment allowed systemic production issues at Boeing to continue unchecked, contributing to other incidents like the blowout that affected an Alaskan Airlines flight earlier this year.
The campaign group is led by Ed Pierson, a former manager at Boeing’s 737 factory in Renton, Washington. Pierson, who became a key figure following the 737 Max accidents, has repeatedly testified before U.S. lawmakers, asserting that production issues at Boeing’s factory played a significant role in both crashes—a claim Boeing denies.
The Ethiopian Accident Investigation Bureau supported Pierson’s view in its official investigation, attributing the crash to production-related defects that led to a sensor failure. However, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board rejected this conclusion, attributing the sensor failure to an impact with a foreign object, likely a bird.
Boeing insiders also deny the claim that documents were concealed and argue that multiple investigations have not supported Pierson’s allegations. Boeing’s new CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has vowed to restore trust in the company, announcing plans to base himself in Seattle to be closer to the factories. The company has been ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement a “corrective action plan” to enhance safety and quality control. However, Pierson claims that reports from factory workers indicate that these efforts have been “woefully inadequate,” as FAA inspections were often known in advance, allowing time for preparation.
