Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg Takes Responsibility For 737 Max Crashes In Indonesia & Ethiopia

Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has apologized for the hundreds of lives lost in two 737 Max 8 aircraft crashes in a video published to the company’s website on Thursday.

In late October, Indonesian Lion Air Flight 610 crashed, killing 189 people on board. In March, 157 died when Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed bringing the death toll to 346. After an investigation, Ethiopian aviation officials ruled out pilot’s error, which prompted the company to respond in a statement.

In a video message posted to the company’s website and Twitter account, Muilenburg acknowledged for the first time that bad data played a role in the 737 Max crashes.

“We at Boeing are sorry for the lives lost in the recent 737 Max accidents. These tragedies continue to weigh heavily on our hearts and minds, and we extend our sympathies to the loved ones of the passengers and crew on board Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. All of us feel the immense gravity of these events across our company and recognize the devastation of the families and friends of the loved ones who perished,” Muilenburg stated.

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The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MACS) is thought to be to blame in both accidents as the system was erroneously activated shortly after take off. The MCAS forces the aircraft into a dive in order to avoid stalling.

“The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly provided by the manufacturer but was not able to control the aircraft,” Ethiopian Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges told reporters at a news conference earlier Thursday.

Since the incidents, Boeing has said that it will continue to improve the safety of their aircrafts.

“We know lives depend on the work we do and that demands the utmost integrity and excellence in how we do it. With a deep sense of duty, we embrace the responsibility of designing, building and supporting the safest airplanes in the skies. We know every person who steps aboard one of our airplanes places their trust in us,” Muilenburg said.