The Boeing 737 Max has had a troubled existence that culminated in 2 fatal crashes just 5 months apart. Here is the complete timeline of the besieged jetliner, from its birth to the present day.
The Boeing 737 Max has had a troubled existence that culminated in 2 fatal crashes just 5 months apart. Here is the complete timeline of the besieged jetliner, from its birth to the present day.
David Slotnick
When the 737 Max was announced in 2011 and entered service in 2017, the plane was touted as the next generation of a tried-and-tested workhorse of consumer aviation.
The Max, a 737 with new more fuel-efficient engines and updated avionics and cabins, would have longer range, have a lower operating cost, and have enough in common with previous models so that pilots could switch back and forth between the two with ease.
However, two fatal crashes involving the plane within five months of each other, which killed a combined 346 people, have led to questions about the plane's design and features meant to make it easier for pilots to fly. The crashes have also called attention to training standards, regulatory oversight, and pilot experience.
Since the second crash in March, the plane has been grounded around the world as Boeing works to fix what appears to be a fundamental design flaw.
From the first designs, to the crashes, the groundings, all the way through today, here is the timeline of the Boeing 737 Max.
