The Latest on the Paris Air Show (all times local):
9:55 a.m.
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A Boeing executive is apologizing to airlines and families of victims of 737 Max crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Kevin McAllister, CEO of Boeing’s commercial aircraft, told reporters at the Paris Air Show on Monday that “we are very sorry for the loss of lives” in the Lion Air crash in October and Ethiopian Airlines crash in March. A total of 346 people were killed.
McAllister also said “I’m sorry for the disruption” to airlines from the subsequent grounding of all Max planes worldwide, and to their passengers. He stressed that the company is working hard to learn from what went wrong but wouldn’t say when the plane could fly again.
Other Boeing executives also stressed the company’s focus on safety and condolences to victims’ families.
Angle-measuring sensors in both planes malfunctioned, alerting anti-stall software to push the noses of the planes down. The pilots were unable to take back control of the planes. Investigations are underway.
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9:45 a.m.
The world’s aviation elite are gathering at the Paris Air Show with safety concerns on many minds after two crashes of the popular Boeing 737 Max.
The global economic slowdown and trade tensions between the U.S. and other powers are also weighing on the event that opened Monday at Le Bourget airfield.
Boeing’s CEO said the company is heading into this week’s show with “humility” after the crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia and Boeing’s botched communication over a cockpit warning system in the Max.
Rival Airbus is expecting some big orders despite a slow sales year so far, and is likely to unveil its long-range A320 XLR at the Paris show.
The event also is showcasing electric planes, pilotless air taxis and other cutting-edge technology.
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The item timed at 9:55 a.m. has been corrected to give the name of the official who spoke as Kevin McAllister, not Randy Tinseth.
