Ethiopian Airlines Chief Executive Tewelde Djebri Mariam today rejected media reports that optional Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft were necessary for safety on board the company's plane, which crashed on March 10 and killed all 157 aboard.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines said it was important not to confuse essential equipment with safety and optional equipment.
"The imported Toyota is equipped with all the necessary equipment for driving, such as engines and tires, but air conditioning and radio are optional equipment."
"So when Boeing takes over airplanes, there are mandatory safety things and there are optional things," he said, pointing out that the angle of attack was optional.
Investigators are focusing on software that has supplied the Boeing 737 Max 8 with the aim of pushing the front of the plane down if it senses a sharp upturn and focuses on the so-called angle of attack.
Media reports have asked whether the crew could regain control of the wrecked Ethiopian plane if the software was present.
"The angle of attack was on the list of optional things along with the flight entertainment system," he said.
Ethiopian Airlines is the African airline with the largest modern fleet of Boeing, Airbus and Bombardier aircraft.
Boeing has been flying Boeing since 1962 and has four Boeing 737 Max 8 planes and has asked for 25 more of this model, worth about $ 3 billion.