US Senate panel to first grill FAA

A US Senate panel plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashes since October, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers.

The hearing on federal oversight on commercial aviation by the Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation and space will include the US Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) acting Administrator Dan Elwell, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel.

Federal prosecutors are investigating the FAA's certification of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that was grounded by regulators around the world.