Following an initially muted response to the crash of two Boeing 737 Max planes, Boeing chairman and chief executive Dennis Muilenburg has issued a personal statement on the tragedies.

“Safety is at the core of who we are at Boeing, and ensuring safe and reliable travel on our airplanes is an enduring value and our absolute commitment to everyone,” he said.

“This overarching focus on safety spans and binds together our entire global aerospace industry and communities.”

Pressure is mounting on Boeing to explain apparent similarities between the crash of a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines earlier this month and similar incident involving a Lion Air plane in October last year.

There were no survivors from either incident.

“Based on facts from the Lion Air Flight 610 accident and emerging data as it becomes available from the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 accident, we are taking actions to fully ensure the safety of the 737 Max,” Muilenburg said.

“We also understand and regret the challenges for our customers and the flying public caused by the fleet’s grounding.”

Ethiopian transport minister, Dagmawit Moges, earlier this week sought to highlight the similarities between the two crashes.

Both happened moments after take-off, with pilots apparently unable to rectify problems with a new manoeuvring characteristics augmentation system.

Boeing has promised a software update for the new system, which was introduced with the 737 Max.

“Soon we will release a software update and related pilot training for the 737 Max that will address concerns discovered in the aftermath of the Lion Air Flight 610 accident,” continued Muilenburg.

“We have been working in full cooperation with the United States Federal Aviation Administration, the department of transportation and the National Transportation Safety Board on all issues relating to both the Lion Air and the Ethiopian Airlines accidents since the Lion Air accident occurred in October last year.”