Everybody agrees that FAA is not what it used to be, these days the Boeing engineers are basically self-certifying their planes.
So what's irrational in not believing that 737 Max is safe?
So what's irrational in not believing that 737 Max is safe?
The millions of miles they've flown without incident.
The key difference this conversation demands is a design versus fabrication or maintenance error. MCAS was a design error. It called into question the entire 737 Max fleet. This looks like a fabrication or maintenance mistake. That calls into question all of the planes similarly fabricated or maintained--those have been grounded. It doesn't affect a 737 Max of a different type, that has been flown for years and been through routine inspections, including of the very bolts suspected to be the cause of this accident.
Caveat: I strongly suspect more than the type 9 need to be looked at. But we do not have evidence that they are unsafe.
I think Boeing /engineers/ would argue that statement and instead tell you that Boeing /management/ is self certifying the planes.