After two deadly crashes of its 737 Max 8 that killed 346 people, Boeing is facing massive scrutiny over one of its newest and most critical aircraft models. The airliner remains grounded around the world, and Congress, the FBI and the Trump administration have called for an inquiry into the FAA's certification process. The developments are a huge blow to Boeing, which has thousands of 737 Max orders on its books. The official causes of the crashes, which appear to be similar, are still under study. But so far, investigation teams in Indonesia and Ethiopia are focusing on faulty sensors and a flight control system designed to push the nose down in the air. Boeing says it has completed the necessary update for review by the FAA. But as of now, the agency has not said when that review will happen and Boeing may temporarily stop production of the plane until it flies again.

On March 10, Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 departed Addis Ababa Bole International Airport bound for Nairobi, Kenya. Just after takeoff, the pilot radioed a distress call and was given immediate clearance to return and land. But before the crew could make it back, the aircraft crashed 40 miles from the airport at 8:44 a.m., six minutes after it left the runway. Aboard were 149 passengers and eight crew members representing more than 30 nationalities. The aircraft involved was only four months old. On Oct. 29, Lion Air flight 610 crashed in the Java Sea 13 minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, Indonesia, killing 189 people. As with the Ethiopian crash, the flight crew lost control early in its flight and made a distress call. That aircraft was almost brand-new as well, having arrived at Lion Air three months earlier. 

Compared with previous 737 versions, the Max 8 has bigger, more powerful and more efficient CFM LEAP engines, improved aerodynamics and a redesigned cabin interior. It also can fly farther and carry more people than the previous generation of 737s, like the 737-800 and 737-900.