LOT accuses Boeing of hiding 737 MAX safety issues

LOT Polish Airlines has accused Boeing of concealing critical safety concerns about the 737 MAX during the aircraft’s 2016 sales campaign, as a closely watched trial opened in a Seattle federal court.

LOT claims Boeing misled both airlines and regulators about the safety of the 737 MAX’s Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), a flight-control software later linked to the fatal crashes of Lion Air Flight JT610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302, which together killed 346 people.

According to LOT’s lawyers, Boeing deliberately minimised the significance of MCAS to avoid costly simulator training requirements for pilots transitioning from earlier 737 models. The airline says this promise of minimal pilot retraining was a key factor in its decision to lease 15 MAX aircraft while attempting to recover financially.

LOT alleges the subsequent worldwide grounding of the 737 MAX fleet in 2019 caused major financial damage and revenue losses. The airline sued Boeing in 2021 and is now seeking compensation through trial after settlement talks failed.

Boeing rejects the allegations, arguing that LOT continues to operate the 737 MAX today, undermining its fraud claims. The manufacturer also noted that regulators eventually cleared the aircraft to return to service following extensive design changes to MCAS and additional pilot training requirements.

The case is significant because LOT is the first airline to take Boeing to trial over losses linked to the 737 MAX crisis. Boeing has previously paid billions of dollars in compensation to crash victims’ families and confidential settlements to airlines affected by the grounding.