US pilots flying Boeing's 737 MAX weren’t told about a change to an automatic system linked to the fatal crash of a Lion Air jet

Boeing Flight Test & Evaluation, Renton, Boeing Field, Seattle, Flight Test, 737 MAX -9, 1D001, First Flight, 04/13/2017, 737MAX-9

Pilots flying Boeing’s 737 MAX for American Airlines and Southwest Airlines were not informed during training about a key change to an automatic system that’s been linked to the fatal crash of a Lion Air jet last month, according to pilot representatives at both airlines.

Jon Weaks, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said Monday the airline and the pilots “were kept in the dark.”

“We do not like the fact that a new system was put on the aircraft and wasn’t disclosed to anyone or put in the manuals,” he said in an interview. What’s more, he noted, Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration have now warned “that the system may not be performing as it should.”

“Is there anything else on the MAX Boeing has not told the operators?” he added. “If there is, we need to be informed.”