Very good description of MCAS;
https://theaircurrent.com/aviation-safety/what-is-the-boeing-737-max-maneuvering-characteristics-augmentation-system-mcas-jt610/
Boeing says pilots can easily override the system, and it’s covered in the manual. The pilots that previously flew the Lion Air accident aircraft did disable the MCAS system and made their flight safely. The accident pilots didn’t. It seems to be a training/awareness problem. We don’t yet know if MCAS was the cause of the most recent accident.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/boeing-to-upgrade-737-max-flight-control-software-456540/
Also witnesses said the Ethiopian plane was was trailing smoke and debris before it crashed;
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-airplane-witnesses/ethiopian-airlines-plane-trailed-smoke-debris-before-crash-witnesses-idUSKBN1QS1LJ
Sounds like engine failure according to witness accounts -
RE: “Also witnesses said the Ethiopian plane was was trailing smoke and debris before it crashed”
There was an expression years ago when aircraft security systems were in vogue . “ you cannot built a high enough fence “ meaning you could always take an aircraft down if you wanted to ..
you cannot protect an aircraft from harm if its an inside
threat.
Interesting. Both of these crashes were flights from pretty much Third World countries...I wonder how much that had to do with it?
Some American airlines (Delta, for one) maintain their own staff in foreign airports, some don’t...and certainly, the airlines of most small countries use their own native staff. So maintenance should probably be looked at.