Airbus has announced its withdrawal from the panel of experts appointed by the US government to review the safety processes put in place by Boeing after the fatal accidents that grounded its 737 MAX model, killing 346 people.

Last week, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) presented the members of this panel of experts, which includes specialists from NASA, the FAA, unions and several US airlines.

James Tidball, Director of Certification at Airbus Americas, was also on the panel.

In a statement to Reuters, Airbus said it was flattered by the FAA's decision, which underscored James Tidball's impartiality in safety matters, but added that "in light of the panel's review, (James Tidball) has decided to withdraw from the panel".

The U.S. Congress had ordered the creation of this panel in 2020 to review the way the FAA certifies new aircraft.

The experts have eight months to complete their review and present their findings and recommendations. (David Shepardson reports; Camille Raynaud reports)