Boeing said it hopes to issue a software update to address a crucial flight-control program that is suspected of playing a role in the October 29 crash of a Lion Air jet in Indonesia and the March 10 crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max.
Meanwhile, Texas Senator Ted Cruz says the Boeing 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia and reports about how the plane was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration have shaken the public's confidence. Cruz noted the "close relationship between industry and regulators" as a factor threatening to erode the confidence of the flying public.
Meanwhile American firm Southwest Airlines says that the government's grounding of all Boeing Max 8 jets will contribute to a $US150 million revenue loss in the first quarter. Southwest said in a filing on Wednesday that it had to cancel an additional 6,600 flights from mid-February through the end of March due to weather and unscheduled maintenance.
The Transportation Department watchdog has previously raised questions about the FAA's certification of Boeing planes and the seemingly close relationship between some agency managers and Boeing.