The U.S. Department of Transportation will establish a "special committee" of outside experts to independently review the FAA's certification of the Boeing 737 Max, amid questions that have arisen about the relationship between Boeing and the FAA. The committee's findings and recommendations will be submitted to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and the FAA administrator. The announcement comes ahead of Chao's scheduled appearance before the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies subcommittee budget hearing on Wednesday morning. Federal authorities have instructed Boeing and FAA employees to retain documents relating to the plane's approval process, which by design relies on manufacturers like Boeing to self-police that it's met FAA requirements. Boeing vice president of communications Gordon Johndroe said in a statement that Max owners must "place a free of charge order through our standard orders system."

Source: Ethiopian News March 25, 2019 19:39 UTC