On March 4, a near-disaster occurred involving a Boeing 737-800 aircraft that was set for Gran Canaria, Spain. The incident only became known on Friday, but the cause of the near-disaster was a software error in the 737’s automatic throttle control system. Instead of delivering the required 92.8 percent of power for takeoff, the system only delivered 84.5 percent.
The UK Department for Transport’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is currently investigating the incident and has described it as “serious.” The AAIB investigation showed that eleven malfunctions occurred in the aircraft during the flight, many of which were related to the automatic throttle system. During the flight, the system switched off twice. Boeing has since admitted that the automatic system has a history of nuisance shutdowns when engaged in takeoff mode.
Boeing has faced several challenges and controversies related to its aircraft in recent years, raising concerns about safety and reliability. In 2018 and 2019, two Max-737 aircraft crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia, resulting in 346 deaths. Boeing is still involved in legal procedures for those disasters, with damages totaling 2.2 billion euros in compensation for relatives and fines after the accidents. In January this year, a panel was blown off an Alaska Airlines 737 aircraft due to a production error. In March, a 737 Max ended up off the runway in Houston after landing gear collapsed, and other incidents involving Boeing aircraft have occurred recently as well. Overall, Boeing continues to work on addressing these issues and improving safety on its aircraft for passengers and crew members alike
