ET 302
10 Mar 2019 · System & Design MalfunctionETHIOPIAN AIRLINES FLIGHT 302
Boeing 737 MAX 8 · Ethiopian Airlines · Image: Wikimedia Commons
Why it happened
MCAS overpowered the crew after takeoff
MCAS
Angle-of-attack sensor
Electric trim cutout
Aircraft
Boeing 737 MAX 8
Ethiopian Airlines
Route
Addis Ababa (ADD), Ethiopia
→ Nairobi (NBO), Kenya
People
157 on board
157 fatalities
Date
10 Mar 2019
Flight crew
Captain: Yared Getachew
Category
System & Design Malfunction
When software, sensors and design turn on the crew.
THE STORY
MCAS fired seconds after takeoff on bad sensor data. The crew followed Boeing's checklist but couldn't overpower the trim — the entire MAX fleet was grounded worldwide.