Moreover, the aircraft maker reportedly didn't disclose the MCAS changes to FAA officials responsible for determining pilot training requirements. While they'd been informed about the original, safer version of MCAS, they granted a request to remove the anti-stall tech from the pilot manual without realizing that Boeing was in the midst of changing the software. Even the chief technical pilot who made the request might not have fully understood MCAS, as he primarily used flight simulators that didn't completely replicate the system.

In a statement, Boeing didn't directly address the apparent revelations and instead said it has "no higher priority" than safety. The FAA, meanwhile, said it "was aware" of the MCAS design while certifying the 737 Max, including activating it in low-speed stalls and "other flight conditions." However, the NYT sources said this only applied to the FAA division handling certification, and that it didn't assess the safety of the changes.

If accurate, the scoop suggests that fully informed Boeing and FAA staff might have caught the MCAS issue before the two deadly crashes that prompted a recent software fix. It also illustrates the danger of isolating development teams. While that can aid in focus and protecting secrets, it also prevents teams from getting a holistic picture and making informed decisions that, in cases like this, could save lives.