Preliminary data recovered from the black box of Ethiopian Airlines crash reveals “similarities” to the Lion Air Crash in October last year.
The Ethiopian Minister of Transport Dagmawit Moges on Sunday said, “During the investigation of the FDR (flight data recorder) clear similarities were noted between Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and Indonesian Lion Air Flight 610, which will be subject of further investigation.”
Two brand new Boeing 737 Max aircrafts crashed in the last six months, raising concerns over safety of the fuel efficient aircraft. After the second fatal crashes last week, all off the 371 Boeing 737 Max around the world were grounded.
The first incident occurred last year in October, 189 people on board Lion Air Flight 610 died after it plunged into the Java sea 13 minutes after take off. The second incident occurred on March 10th this year, an Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed 6 minutes after take off, all 157 people on board the flight were killed.
Investigators suspect the Lion Air crashed because the sensors on the outside of the plane transmitted incorrect data, which could have forced the automated flight software to force the plane’s nose downwards.
Preliminary data reveals that the Ethiopian Airlines showed an erratic path after take off from Addis Ababa, the plane ascended and descended and then ascended again, all the while flying at speeds well in excess of normal takeoff procedure.
Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam has previously said the pilot of Flight 302 had “flight control problems” shortly before the plane crashed.”He was having difficulties with the flight control of the airplane, so he asked to return back to base,” GebreMariam said. The pilot was granted permission to return at the same time but it disappeared from the radar.
