Trump hails 737 MAX design after FlyDubai cockpit attack
( NewsNation ) — President Donald Trump is praising Boeing and the design of the 737 MAX after a Flydubai jet survived a dramatic mid-flight attack that left the captain and co-pilot fighting inside the cockpit.
Trump praised the aircraft, calling the Boeing 737 MAX 8 "an amazing show of precise and powerful structural planning and design."
The comments mark a notable shift in Trump's view of the 737 MAX. He previously criticized the aircraft as "unattractive, fat, and slow."
Former jihadist knew FlyDubai attack was a hijacking attempt 'right away'
The latest praise comes after a Flydubai 737 MAX 8 made a safe landing in Saudi Arabia despite suffering severe forces during the incident.
Authorities are continuing to investigate what happened inside the cockpit after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar while nearly 200 people were aboard.
Israel's prime minister has described the incident as an attempted hijacking.
737 MAX survives ordeal
The aircraft plunged nearly 17,000 feet in about 29 seconds, subjecting the plane to intense G-forces that were strong enough to tear off part of its rudder.
Despite the damage, the aircraft remained controllable and ultimately landed safely.
Machchhar also unlocked the cockpit door after being attacked. Passengers and crew members then entered the cockpit and helped subdue the co-pilot.
Modern commercial aircraft, including the 737 MAX, have cockpit-door systems that allow pilots to override electronic locks. The security feature became standard following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
737 MAX's troubled history
Trump's comments come despite the 737 MAX's troubled history.
The Federal Aviation Administration certified the aircraft in 2017, but the plane faced intense scrutiny after two fatal crashes involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines. The crashes killed a combined 346 people and led the FAA to ground hundreds of 737 MAX aircraft in 2019.
Investigators linked both crashes to a software system that could force the aircraft's nose downward based on faulty sensor information.
Boeing subsequently redesigned the system, which remains part of the MAX aircraft's design.
The plane has since become a major part of commercial airline fleets worldwide.
FlyDubai alleged hijacking attempt on flight to Tel Aviv explained
More than 2,300 737 MAX aircraft are estimated to be operating with commercial airlines, primarily the MAX 8 and MAX 9.
Southwest Airlines is among the biggest operators of the aircraft, with more than 300 MAX jets in its fleet.
The 737 MAX has also become Boeing's best-selling aircraft line.
Trump's praise of the aircraft comes as Boeing faces other challenges, including its work on the next Air Force One aircraft. That project is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.
For now, however, the president is highlighting the MAX's ability to withstand the extraordinary forces experienced during the Flydubai incident — and the aircraft's successful landing despite the dramatic events in the cockpit.
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