US safety regulators have cleared the Boeing 737 MAX to fly again after been grounded for over 20 months following two fatal crashes caused by design flaws.
The Boeing 737 MAX is the fourth generation of the Boeing 737, the successor to the 737NG. The 737 MAX development was announced in 2011 and the aircraft took its maiden flight in 2016.
Things took a dark turn after two fatal crashes due to design flaws led to the aircraft been grounded all across the globe. A total of 346 people lost their lives from the two crashes.
In March of 2019, Boeing unveiled a software update to avoid MCAS errors developed and tested in flight to be certified.
In June of 2020, FAA conducted test flights for the recertification of the aircraft. FAA Administer Stephen Dickson himself flown the aircraft on test flight on September of 2020.
In October 2020, Patrick Ky, the executive director of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, claimed that the updated 737 Max reached the level of safety "high enough" for EASA.
The aircraft would not immediately return to the skies as airlines are required to make maintenance and system updates before flights can resume. New airline training programs will also require approval.
Steve Dickson, the head of the FAA, said: “I can tell you now that I am 100% comfortable with my family flying on it.”