airworthy

The company is also accused of falsifying Federal Aviation Administration release certificates, used to show that an aircraft is airworthy.

Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.

Repairing and updating the inventoried aircraft so they are airworthy takes about the same amount of resources as building an all-new aircraft, he added.

“Each of our 737-9 MAX will return to service only after the rigorous inspections are completed and each plane is deemed airworthy according to FAA requirements,” the airline said in a written statement Friday.

More planes will be “added every day as inspections are completed and each aircraft is deemed airworthy,” the airline said.