Southwest Airlines is adding a new safety device to its fleet of Boeing 737 Max planes. The company will activate new Angle of Attack (AOA) indicators on its planes to warn if the sensors are giving incorrect data. The AOA system is designed to sense a plane’s angle and correct the nose of the aircraft downward if it is pointing too high to prevent the plane from stalling.
The move by Southwest comes just weeks after a Lion Air 737 Max crashed into the Java Sea killing all 189 people on board. Initial investigations point to a malfunctioning AOA system in that case. If the system malfunctions, it can push the nose down too far and send the plane into a dangerous nosedive which may prove difficult for pilots to reverse.
Boeing issued warning for 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircrafts
Aviation groups in the United States, including the Federal Aviation Authority, say that Boeing didn’t tell them about new sensors in the AOA system that were added to the 737 Max aircrafts. Boeing issued a warning for the 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircrafts after the crash and the U.S. Government issued an emergency airworthiness directive.
New indicator being added to Southwest fleet
The new indicator being added to Southwest’s fleet is an optional additional check on the aircraft’s AOA system. The airline said in a statement that the new measure “will provide a valuable supplemental cross-check in the even there is an erroneous AOA signal present.” Indonesian investigators have suggested that the AOA system may have been malfunctioning in the Lion Air crash, but that it is “too early to conclude” whether the issue with the system contributed to the crash.
737 Max aircrafts will be fitted with AOA device
Southwest’s pilots were informed of the change and all new planes from Boeing will come with the AOA device already installed. Southwest is also expected to fit the device to all of its existing 737 Max aircrafts.
The Law Office of Richard Schechter has experience in handling the complexities of plane crash cases. We currently represent a family that was injured in the Aeroméxico plane crash in Durango, Mexico on July 31, 2018 when the pilot of the plane chose to takeoff directly into the path of a severe storm. The plane crashed seconds after leaving the ground, injuring dozens. Thankfully, no one was killed.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a plane crash, call the Law Office of Richard Schechter today for a free consultation with our Board-Certified trial attorney. Mr. Schechter will be happy to answer any questions and address any concerns you may have. Call 1-800-734-5612 today.
