What we know about Boeing 737 MAX crash and what comes next

More than 300 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 passenger jets around the world have been taken out of service following two fatal crashes over the past five months in Ethiopia and Indonesia that killed almost 350 people combined. The causes of both crashes are still under investigation. One of the biggest unanswered questions: Was the plane`s software to blame?

What we Know  

- Boeing has stopped delivery of all new MAX jets to its customers.

- Satellite data gathered from the Ethiopian Airlines flight and evidence from the crash site showed similarities with the Lion Air accident in Indonesia, which prompted the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to ground all Boeing MAX jets in service.

- The pilot of the Ethiopian Airlines flight had reported internal control problems and received permission to return.

- Technical analysis of the black boxes from the crashed Ethiopian Airlines jet is set for Friday in France. It will take several days to complete the first readings from the boxes, French aviation officials said. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators to assist.

- Indonesia plans to move up by about a month the release of a probe report on the Lion Air crash, which killed all 189 on board, the country`s transport safety committee said on Friday. It now plans to release the report between July and August, ahead of its previous schedule of between August and September. 

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- Following the Lion Air crash in Indonesia in October, Boeing said it was preparing a software upgrade for the jets. After the Ethiopia crash, the company said it would deploy that upgrade across the fleet "in the coming weeks."

- Boeing maintains its new, fuel-efficient jets are safe, but supported the FAA decision to ground them. Fearing a financial hit and brand damage, investors have wiped about $26 billion off the company`s market value. 

- U.S. lawmakers said the planes could be grounded for "weeks" to upgrade the software and install it in every plane.

- No lawsuits have yet been filed since the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, but some plaintiffs` lawyers said they expect that Boeing will be sued in the United States.

What's next?

- Investigators are expected to release a preliminary report based on information they glean from the data and cockpit recordings captured by the two black boxes.

- A decision will be made by countries about whether and when to lift the grounding of the Boeing jets based on that information.