New York (AFP)

Indonesian authorities estimate in the preliminary findings of a report that problems in the design and supervision of the 737 MAX have played an important role in the crash of the Lion Air aircraft off Indonesia in 2018 , says Sunday the Wall Street Journal.

This report, which should normally be published in early November, also blames the accident for a series of piloting errors and maintenance problems, the business daily adds.

The tragedy of Lion Air resulted in the death of 189 people, while the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, also a 737 MAX, a few months later killed 157 people. Boeing's model has been grounded for six months.

The MCAS anti-stall system, designed specifically for the 737 MAX, was implicated by preliminary investigations into both accidents.

Indonesian investigators may still alter their findings, which they have shared for the moment with the US Aviation Authorities (FAA) and Transportation Safety (NTSB), the Wall Street Journal says.

US officials are scheduled to visit Indonesia at the end of the month to discuss it.

According to daily sources, the NTSB would not have much to say. Boeing and the FAA, on the other hand, are worried that "the final report will unduly focus on design (Boeing) and FAA certification errors."

The investigators listed a total of more than 100 factors involved in the air accident.

Contacted by AFP, Boeing assured "continue to support the investigation" of Indonesian authorities. Neither Faa nor NTSB wanted to comment, referring only to the Indonesian authorities.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the NTSS is preparing to announce "towards the end of the month" a series of recommendations ranging from the reinforcement of the skills of piloting pilots to the improvement of the process of homologation of the new models. aircraft by the FAA.

A panel of international regulators, set up by the FAA, should also submit in the coming weeks a very critical report on the relationship between Boeing and the authority.

On the eve of a meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Steve Dickson, the new boss of the FAA, will meet his counterparts Monday to discuss Boeing's proposed changes and return to service. 737 MAX.

© 2019 AFP