(CNN) The pilots of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 did everything they were trained to do, but it still wasn't enough to regain control of the 737 Max 8 before it smashed into the ground near Addis Ababa's airport, killing 157.

That's the conclusion of Ethiopian aviation authorities Thursday, as they discussed a highly anticipated preliminary report on the crash investigation, which has yet to be publicly released.

Last month's disaster -- along with another crash of the same type of jet in October killing 189 -- was enough to ground the world's entire service fleet of 737 Maxes and call the aircraft's safety into question.

Here's what we learned from Thursday's news conference:

Software may have played a role in the crash

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