Airlines

NTSB Publishes Additional Comments on Ethiopia’s Final Report on 737 MAX 8 Accident

The final report of the Ethiopian Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (EAIB) about the March 10, 2019, accident of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, received additional comments from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The new comments, provided to the EAIB’s investigator-in-charge, detail the NTSB’s concerns about several of the findings in the final accident report. This is in addition to the comments the NTSB made public on Dec. 27 on the EAIB’s final accident report, which detailed the investigation’s insufficient attention to the human performance aspects of the accident.

Boeing Statement On Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Investigation Preliminary Report(Opens in a new browser tab)

The EAIB issued its final report without giving the NTSB the opportunity to review new information incorporated since the NTSB’s last review and provide comments ahead of the report’s issuance, as stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 13.

Although the NTSB agrees with the overall finding in the EAIB report related to the role the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) and related systems played in the accident, the EAIB’s report contains findings the NTSB said are unsupported by evidence — for example, that aircraft electrical problems caused erroneous angle-of-attack (AOA) output.

In its final report, the EAIB wrote electrical anomalies that existed since the time of the accident airplane’s production caused the AOA sensor heater to fail, which resulted in the AOA sensor providing erroneous values that caused MCAS to repeatedly pitch the nose of the airplane downward until it struck the ground.

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But the NTSB found the erroneous AOA sensor output was caused by separation of the AOA sensor vane due to impact with a foreign object, which was most likely a bird. During the accident investigation, the NTSB provided the EAIB with evidence supporting this finding, but that evidence was not included in the final report.

The EAIB’s conclusion that flight crews lacked the necessary MCAS paperwork was misrepresented, according to the NTSB, as Boeing had already given all 737 MAX operators the necessary information four months prior to the crash involving Ethiopian Airlines.

The complete text of the NTSB’s comments is available online.

Airlines

These 6 Airlines Are Giving You Free Wi-Fi on Your 2025 Flights

In a world where staying connected is more important than ever, airlines are stepping up their game by offering passengers free Wi-Fi during their flights.

Gone are the days of paying exorbitant fees to check your emails or scroll through social media at 30,000 feet. Staying connected during a flight is becoming easier than ever, and in 2025, wireless password wifi airport and several airlines are taking it a step further by offering free Wi-Fi for their passengers.

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Here’s a look at six airlines that are leading the way in offering free high-speed internet for everyone on board.

1.Air France
Starting in the summer of 2025, Air France is teaming up with Starlink to offer ultra-fast Wi-Fi on all its flights. The service promises a “ground-like” internet experience and will be available free of charge for passengers in all cabin classes. To access the Wi-Fi, passengers can log in using their Flying Blue loyalty program accounts.
2.Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines made history as the first U.S. airline to partner with Starlink back in 2022. By September 2024, the airline successfully installed the high-speed Wi-Fi on all of its Airbus aircraft. With this partnership, airport wifi passwords passengers can enjoy reliable internet throughout their flight.
3.JetBlue
JetBlue has been a pioneer in offering free Wi-Fi to its passengers. The Boston-based airline was the first major carrier to provide free Wi-Fi for all its customers, regardless of cabin class. The service is powered by ViaSat, ensuring that JetBlue passengers stay connected even in the sky.
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4.Delta Air Lines
Delta is rolling out fast, free Wi-Fi across its fleet, thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile. As of 2025, SkyMiles® Members on most domestic flights can enjoy free Wi-Fi. The airline is also working to extend this service to its international and regional routes, ensuring more passengers can stay connected.
5.Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand is one of the first international airlines to offer free Wi-Fi, thanks to its partnership with Starlink. The airline has already rolled out free Wi-Fi on many of its flights, allowing passengers to enjoy seamless internet access while traveling to and from New Zealand.
6.China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Airlines offers free Wi-Fi on select flights to and from major U.S. cities, including San Francisco and Chicago. American passengers flying on these routes can stay connected with no extra cost during their journey.