
The 737 Max 8 and the
challenges of software complexity
The tragic crashes of two Boeing 737 Max 8, one in Indonesia on October 28, 2018 and the other in Ethiopia on March 10, 2019, are highlighting the risks and uncertainties introduced by software in automated systems. The investigations are proceeding despite Ethiopia’s decision not to cooperate with the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Reports of US pilots encountering control problems with the Max 8’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System