LONDON — The recent Boeing 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia in which 346 people were killed have raised the question of whether the close relationship between Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Authority was the reason why safety issues crept in with the jets. The FAA has been accused of being lax in its watch dog role and that it had allowed Boeing to certify their own jets. The New York  Times reported that FAA employees feared retaliation if they held Boeing accountable. It has also come to light that American pilots confronted Boeing about potential safety issues in 737 Max planes after the first crash in Indonesia. Boeing resisted their calls, but promised a software fix. FAA officials are in the hot seat this week facing questions from lawmakers in Washington about their relationship with Boeing. And the initial review does not look good for the FAA. They will also face questions on how they plan to assure a skittish public that the Boeing 737 Max will be safe to board in future. The jets remain grounded while Boeing is working on a software fix and revised training programme. – Linda van Tilburg

FAA didn't treat suspect 737 MAX flight-control system as critical safety risk