In 2021, after rigorous testing, Civil Aviation Authorities in many places in the world cleared the Boeing 737 MAX to fly again, including the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, Brazil, and the EU.

As of 2026, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is considered safe to fly by global aviation authorities like the FAA and EASA, having undergone one of the most rigorous safety re-evaluations in history. However, it remains under constant scrutiny. Recently, in February 2026, the FAA issued a new Airworthiness Directive for the MAX 8 and 8200 models to address an electrical ground wiring issue in the air conditioning system that could lead to cabin overheating. This is a "proactive" safety mandate that requires airlines to update their flight manuals with specific emergency procedures for pilots. While Boeing is working on a permanent engineering fix, the current directive allows the planes to continue flying safely provided crews are trained on the new protocols. The aircraft's core MCAS system (the cause of the 2018/19 accidents) has been completely redesigned, and the plane has logged millions of safe flight hours since its return to service, maintaining a safety record comparable to other modern jets.