In 2012, Boeing engineers and test pilots are under pressure to deliver a redesigned 737 quickly, to compete with a similar plane from their rival, Airbus. The 737 MAX has bigger, more fuel efficient engines, but it’s also prone to stalling. A complete redesign is out of the question, so engineers settle on installing a piece of software instead, called MCAS, which can automatically push down the plane’s nose and prevent a stall. But to avoid costly additional training, Boeing opts not to tell pilots about the new software – with disastrous results.
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