{"id":142546,"date":"2026-05-14T13:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T07:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=142546"},"modified":"2026-05-14T02:52:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:22:20","slug":"lot-says-boeing-concealed-737-max-mcas-issues-during-jet-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/14\/lot-says-boeing-concealed-737-max-mcas-issues-during-jet-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"LOT Says Boeing Concealed 737 MAX MCAS Issues During Jet Sales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SEATTLE\u2014<\/strong> LOT Polish Airlines (LO)<\/a> has accused Boeing of concealing critical safety concerns linked to the 737 MAX aircraft during the airline\u2019s fleet expansion campaign in 2016, according to arguments presented in a U.S. federal court in Seattle this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lawsuit, being heard in the U.S. District Court in Seattle, centers on claims that Boeing misrepresented the safety and pilot training requirements of the Boeing 737 MAX while competing aggressively against the Airbus A320neo family. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOT argues that those alleged misrepresentations caused major financial damage after the worldwide grounding of the aircraft in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"LOT
Photo: LOT Polish Airlines<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Boeing Trial Begins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

LOT filed the lawsuit in 2021, seeking compensation for revenue losses and operational disruption caused by the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX fleet following two fatal crashes involving Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During opening statements, attorneys representing LOT alleged that Boeing intentionally withheld information about the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS)<\/a>, a flight-control software later identified as a central factor in both accidents that killed 346 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the airline\u2019s legal team, Boeing marketed the aircraft as a cost-effective replacement for earlier 737 variants because pilots would not require extensive simulator training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOT executives argued that the promise of minimal transition training played a decisive role in the airline\u2019s decision to lease 15 MAX aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Former LOT executive Maciej Wilk told jurors that shifting to the Airbus A320 family<\/a> would have required expensive additional pilot training, making Boeing\u2019s offer financially attractive during a difficult period for the carrier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"LOT
Photo: By Hawkeye UK – https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/65001151@N03\/48546614527\/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=81423122<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

MCAS Safety Claims<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The dispute focuses heavily on Boeing\u2019s handling of MCAS development and certification before the aircraft entered service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOT alleges Boeing failed to fully disclose concerns surrounding the system while negotiating sales with airlines worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MCAS was designed to automatically push the aircraft\u2019s nose downward under certain flight conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Investigators later concluded that faulty sensor data repeatedly activated the system in the Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOT\u2019s attorneys argued that Boeing continued assuring airlines and the public that the aircraft remained safe even after the first crash in Indonesia in 2018. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline stated it continued operating the MAX fleet until regulators globally grounded the aircraft after the second crash in Ethiopia in March 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grounding lasted nearly 20 months and forced airlines across the world to cancel flights, adjust schedules, and delay expansion plans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regulators eventually cleared the aircraft to return to service after Boeing redesigned MCAS and implemented enhanced pilot training requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Boeing
Photo: Collins Aerospace<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Boeing Responds to the Criticism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boeing rejected LOT\u2019s allegations in court and argued that the airline\u2019s continued operation of the 737 MAX undermines its fraud claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Attorneys representing Boeing questioned why LOT still operates the aircraft if it truly believed the manufacturer intentionally deceived customers. Boeing also pointed to the aircraft\u2019s return to global service following extensive regulatory reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The aerospace manufacturer has already paid billions of dollars in compensation to victims\u2019 families and reached confidential settlements with several airlines impacted by the grounding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, LOT is believed to be the first airline to take a MAX-related lawsuit to a full trial instead of reaching a settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LOT Airlines 787 Pilots Clash with New York ATC Over Last Minute Cabin Delay<\/a><\/blockquote>