Boeing creates 'safe design' panel amid overhaul following two fatal crashes

Boeing said on Wednesday that it has created a permanent committee "to ensure safe design" of its aircraft, a decision that follows increased pressure from regulators and lawsuits stemming from two crashes of the company's top-selling 737 Max jet.

The Aerospace Safety Committee, headed by former US Navy admiral Edmund Giambastiani Jr, an ex-vice chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and a former nuclear submarine officer, will oversee the development, manufacture and production of Boeing's products and services.

"The safety of the global aviation industry is rooted in its dedication to continuous improvement and learning," he said in a statement. "The independent committee review was extensive, rigorous and focused on delivering specific recommendations to ensure the highest levels of safety in Boeing airplanes and aerospace products."