Boeing Max crash victims’ families fear return: ‘We cannot trust this plane’

Relatives of victims of one of the plane crashes involving Boeing’s grounded 737 Max argued Tuesday that the plane is still unsafe as US regulators near clearing the jet to return to service after 20 months. The FAA has telegraphed that a decision to recertify the jet is coming soon. The agency has already released proposed software upgrades and fixes to the plane, and plans for revised pilot training. Michael Stumo, father of Samya Rose Stumo, who died in the March 2019 crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, said in a teleconference with reporters that the agency is keeping families of crash victims in the dark about why it believes the 737 Max is now safe to fly. “They say trust us, just like before,” Stumo said. “They don’t meet with us, they meet with each other. And we cannot trust this plane.” The FAA and Boeing have already faced multiple reviews of their actions by lawmakers, government watchdogs, crash investigators and outside experts. In response to similar charges leveled against the agency last week, the FAA issued a statement defending its actions. “The FAA’s process during the certification of the Boeing 737 Max has been transparent to an unprecedented degree,” the agency said. Naoise Ryan, wife of Mick Ryan, who died in the Flight 302 crash, said a decision by the FAA to re-certify the 737 Max would not be enough to convince her the plane is safe now. “We want answers as to why the crash happened and also we want answers as to exactly what they’ve done to make sure this never happens again,” she said. “Based on the lack of transparency alone, I would not want a family member to board one of these planes.”<br/>