United States of America

FAA Certifies Boeing's 737 Max 10

Is this proof of rigorous reform or evidence that the regulator defers to Boeing?

4 hours ago·Updated 1 hour ago

Story

Above: A Boeing 737 Max 10 airplane at a Boeing Co. facility in Everett, in Washington, on Oct. 20. Image credit: M. Scott Brauer/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified Boeing's 737 Max 10 on Tuesday, clearing the largest model in the 737 Max family for production and delivery to domestic and foreign carriers, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announcing the decision.
Federal Aviation Administration
Boeing
Seeking Alpha
Quartz
The agency issued an amended type certificate confirming the jet meets applicable design and safety rules, as well as an updated Production Limitation Record authorizing production of the aircraft.
Federal Aviation Administration
Before certification, the FAA mandated Boeing modify the plane's design to improve performance, including an improved angle-of-attack sensor, in accordance with the Aircraft Certification, Safety and Accountability Act and NTSB recommendations.
Federal Aviation Administration
The aircraft was initially intended to achieve certification and begin flying in 2020. Several fatal Boeing 737 crashes in 2018 and 2019, however, which killed 347 people on Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, delayed the process, as well as other safety issues.
CNBC
Financial Times
Federal Aviation Administration
To date, Boeing has logged 1,555 Max 10 orders from more than 30 customers and expects deliveries to begin in the coming months. This figure represents more than 30% of the Max program's 7,350-strong order book, with nearly 2,500 737s delivered as of the end of September 2026.
Boeing
The approval comes months after the FAA certified the Boeing 737 MAX-7 in August following "significant work" on the jet, including overhauls of its flight-control software, flightcrew alerting system and anti-icing engine system.
Federal Aviation Administration

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The Spin

Narrative A

Boeing received this certification by meeting the FAA's stringent requirements to improve the aircraft's design. Now that the necessary changes have been made, the jet meets the standards to warrant the agency's approval. This ensures the safety of passengers and crew alike, and with it, America's lead in civil aviation.

Federal Aviation Administration

Boeing

Narrative B

Certification means little when the regulator relied on Boeing's paid delegates and agreed to approve the aircraft long before announcing an official decision. This approach recklessly prioritizes corporate interests and profit over safety. Inevitably, this lax stance will end in tragedy, as prior incidents have proved.

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