Crashed Lion Air Flight Had Damaged Airspeed Indicator On Four Previous Flights Written 6 November 2018

Reuters reports that Indonesian accident investigators “said an airspeed indicator of a Boeing Co (BA.N) 737 MAX plane that crashed in the Java Sea last week was damaged for its last four flights, but US authorities responded cautiously to suggestions of fleet-wide checks.” The error was revealed after data was “downloaded from the plane’s flight data recorder, Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) chief Soerjanto Tjahjono told reporters on Monday.” According to Tjahjono, “We are formulating, with NTSB and Boeing, detailed inspections regarding the airspeed indicator.” However, FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell cautioned, “Any action the FAA would take regarding that incident would have to wait until we have findings, until we have information.” It is not “immediately clear whether the problem with the crashed jet stemmed from a mechanical or maintenance issue,” and the FAA has not received similar reports of airspeed issues with the model in the US. 
More Info (Reuters)