Boeing will face questions after second tragedy ANALYSIS

BOEING 737s generally have a great safety record but this particular model is relatively new.

Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed off the coast of Indonesia last October, was exactly the same model.

There has been some controversy over a new automatic anti-stall system which Boeing included in these planes.

I understand it has been established this system may have played a part in the Lion Air crash. Boeing is going to have to answer some questions very quickly considering two of these aircraft have crashed in five months.

If there does turn out to be a problem with this system the whole global fleet would be grounded. But at this early

stage we need to be careful because there may not be a link at all.

Ethiopian Airways has got quite a good safety record, they are not one of these cowboy outfits.

But they have had a couple of issues where engines have ingested flocks of pigeons in the past – indicating that this may be a problem in their location.

But at this stage there are no definite answers. According to transmissions

this aircraft took off and accelerated – but did not climb. At this stage nobody knows why, it’s a real puzzle.

The voice recorder and flight data will be analysed but it could be weeks before the results are made public.

I don’t think people should be worried about flying in the meantime.

■ Boeing were last night contacted for a comment but had not responded.