American Airlines returns Boeing 737 Max to skies over U.S.

Dec. 29 (UPI) -- The 737 Max, Boeing's troubled airliner that's been grounded for almost two years over trouble with its automated flight system, returned to the skies over the United States on Tuesday.

With a three-hour trip from Miami to New York City Tuesday morning, American Airlines became the first U.S. carrier to return the model to commercial service.

AA Flight 718, a 737 Max 8, departed Miami International Airport for New York City's LaGuardia Airport at 10:24 a.m. EST.

American's return opened the second act of the 737 Max after it was grounded by U.S. regulators in March 2019 after two crashes overseas killed close to 350 people. It was later found there was a problem with the automated flight software.

American said earlier this month it was preparing its 737 Max fleet for a return after the Federal Aviation Administration certified the software fix and deemed the plane airworthy. Brazil has also cleared the 737 Max.

American has said it will use the model for daily flights between Miami and New York City and will likely add more in January.

Only two other U.S. carriers presently operate the 737 Max -- United, which plans to fly them again in February, and Southwest, which will follow in March.

Alaska Airlines has agreed to buy 737 Max airliners from Boeing, but to date has not yet taken any deliveries.