Is the Boeing 737 MAX safe?
Short answer: yes — and the data backs it up. In service since 2017, the Boeing 737 MAX has flown over 3.1 million flights with 2 fatal incidents in its lifetime — far below older-generation jets.
Why nervous flyers ask about the Boeing 737 MAX
After a two-year global grounding, the 737 MAX returned to service in 2020 with a completely redesigned flight-control system and the most scrutiny any aircraft has ever received. Since recertification it has flown over 3 million flights safely.
By the numbers
- Total units built: 1,400
- Currently in service: 1,380
- Cumulative flights flown: 3.1 million
- Engines: 2
- Maximum range: 4,500 miles
- Hull losses per million flights: 0.65
- Fatal incidents (all time): 2
How it handles turbulence
With a turbulence-resistance score of 6.8/10, the Boeing 737 MAX is on the smaller end of commercial jets, so turbulence is felt more than on wide-bodies. That said, the structural margin remains many times what any flight will encounter.
What pilots say about it
Crews who fly the Boeing 737 MAX consistently describe it as predictable, well-equipped and forgiving. Recertified; smaller frame feels more turbulence. For passengers, that translates to fewer surprises and a more uniform flying experience flight-to-flight.