#Boeing 737 MAX set to resume flights for American Airlines

Boeing 737 MAX planes are set to resume commercial flights for American Airlines on Tuesday.

The MAX has been grounded in the US for nearly two years since March 2018 after two deadly crashes in five months killed 346 people. 

The jet was only approved to take to the skies again last month by the Federal Aviation Administration after Boeing agreed to software upgrades and new safeguards on the flight control system linked to both fatal crashes.

Family members of victims of the aircraft’s previous crashes have criticized the decision, accusing Boeing and the FAA of not being transparent about the documents and information they relied on when making the decision to bring back the plane. 

“The more that is uncovered about the development of the Boeing 737 MAX, the more distrust unfolds from the families and the flying public,” Robert A. Clifford, a lawyer for families of 72 victims of the MAX crashes, said in a statement. 

The Tuesday morning flight will see the MAX travel from Miami to LaGuardia.

“We would have never brought this back if the pilots and flight attendants didn’t feel comfortable,” American Airlines COO David Seymour said at a media event earlier this month. 

The MAX has already completed around 250 flights for Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes and Grupo Aeromexico this month. 

American Airlines currently has 31 737 MAX aircraft after taking delivery of seven more jets since the FAA lifted its safety ban, including one on Monday, and plans to gradually reintroduce the plane to its fleet.

The airline said at a briefing Tuesday morning that 1,400 pilots have received new training for the MAX, and that all of its pilots rated to fly the aircraft will be trained by March 2021.

Shares of Boeing were up 1.1 percent in Tuesday morning trading. 

With Post wires