Ethopian Airline Crash: Indian grounds Boeing 737 Max

When Donald Trump spoke with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg on Tuesday to get assurances about the safety of the 737 MAX plane that crashed in Ethiopia, he wasn`t talking to a stranger.

The US president, who owned his own airline, Trump Shuttle, from 1989 to 1992, is an aviation enthusiast. Before becoming president he had his own private jet and since his inauguration, he has taken visible delight in the presidential aircraft, Air Force One.

His aviation connections have expanded during his presidency to include relationships with powerful executives in the defense industry, including Muilenburg, with whom he has talked several times.&nbsp;

Muilenburg told Trump in Tuesday`s morning call that the aircraft was safe and did not need to be grounded, two people briefed on the conversation said.&nbsp;

Later in the day, aviation officials repeated that US flights of the plane would continue.

That leaves the United States as an outlier in its response to Sunday`s crash of a Boeing 737 MAX that killed 157 people. The European Union`s aviation safety regulator on Tuesday suspended all flights by the plane in the bloc; of the top 10 countries by air passenger travel, all but the United States and Japan have halted flights.

US officials, including a bipartisan group of five Senators, are asking why the FAA is not doing the same. US Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican who chairs the Senate subcommittee on aviation and space, said he intends to convene a hearing to investigate.

The Ethiopian crash follows one of a 737 MAX five months ago in Indonesia that killed 189 people. There is no evidence yet that the two disasters are linked. Plane experts say it is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash.

DEEP TIES

Trump personally negotiated with Muilenburg to try to lower the cost of a future version of Air Force One after complaining the price tag was too high.

"He cares about business and he creates open communication lines, and we will have differences from time to time, we may not agree on every topic,” Muilenburg said in a radio interview last month.&nbsp;

But while the relationship hasn`t all been cozy, ties between Boeing and the Trump administration run deep.

Trump has used Boeing products and sites as a backdrop for major announcements over the course of his presidency. In March 2018 he touted the impact of his tax overhaul bill as he visited a plant in St. Louis.

Before joining the Pentagon, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who is expected to be named to the post, worked for 31 years at Boeing, where he was general manager for the 787 Dreamliner passenger jet.

Boeing has nominated Nikki Haley, Trump`s former US ambassador to the United Nations who continues to be a close ally, to join its board of directors at the company`s annual shareholders meeting on April 29.

Trump has also put pressure on US allies to buy products from Boeing, the country`s second largest defense contractor which received $104 billion in unclassified defense contracts between 2014 and 2018.&nbsp;

US officials and defense industry sources said that weeks after Trump pressed the Emir of Kuwait in 2018 over a long-delayed deal for Boeing`s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, Kuwait said it would proceed with the order.

Boeing is also one of the largest US exporters to China, and Muilenburg told an aviation summit in Washington that purchases of its US-made aircraft by China could be part of a sweeping trade deal currently being negotiated.

Aircraft exports have thus far been spared from retaliatory Chinese tariffs.

When Donald Trump spoke with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg on Tuesday to get assurances about the safety of the 737 MAX plane that crashed in Ethiopia, he wasn`t talking to a stranger.

When Donald Trump spoke with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg on Tuesday to get assurances about the safety of the 737 MAX plane that crashed in Ethiopia, he wasn`t talking to a stranger. The US president, who owned his own airline, Trump Shuttle, from 1989 to 1992, is an aviation enthusiast. Before becoming president he had his own private jet and since his inauguration, he has taken visible delight in the presidential aircraft, Air Force One. His aviation connections have expanded during his presidency to include relationships with powerful executives in the defense industry, including Muilenburg, with whom he has talked several times. Muilenburg told Trump in Tuesday`s morning call that the aircraft was safe and did not need to be grounded, two people briefed on the conversation said. Later in the day, aviation officials repeated that US flights of the plane would continue. That leaves the United States as an outlier in its response to Sunday`s crash of a Boeing 737 MAX that killed 157 people. The European Union`s aviation safety regulator on Tuesday suspended all flights by the plane in the bloc; of the top 10 countries by air passenger travel, all but the United States and Japan have halted flights. US officials, including a bipartisan group of five Senators, are asking why the FAA is not doing the same. US Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican who chairs the Senate subcommittee on aviation and space, said he intends to convene a hearing to investigate. The Ethiopian crash follows one of a 737 MAX five months ago in Indonesia that killed 189 people. There is no evidence yet that the two disasters are linked. Plane experts say it is too early to speculate on the cause of the crash. DEEP TIES Trump personally negotiated with Muilenburg to try to lower the cost of a future version of Air Force One after complaining the price tag was too high. "He cares about business and he creates open communication lines, and we will have differences from time to time, we may not agree on every topic,” Muilenburg said in a radio interview last month. But while the relationship hasn`t all been cozy, ties between Boeing and the Trump administration run deep. Trump has used Boeing products and sites as a backdrop for major announcements over the course of his presidency. In March 2018 he touted the impact of his tax overhaul bill as he visited a plant in St. Louis. Before joining the Pentagon, acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who is expected to be named to the post, worked for 31 years at Boeing, where he was general manager for the 787 Dreamliner passenger jet. Boeing has nominated Nikki Haley, Trump`s former US ambassador to the United Nations who continues to be a close ally, to join its board of directors at the company`s annual shareholders meeting on April 29. Trump has also put pressure on US allies to buy products from Boeing, the country`s second largest defense contractor which received $104 billion in unclassified defense contracts between 2014 and 2018. US officials and defense industry sources said that weeks after Trump pressed the Emir of Kuwait in 2018 over a long-delayed deal for Boeing`s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets, Kuwait said it would proceed with the order. Boeing is also one of the largest US exporters to China, and Muilenburg told an aviation summit in Washington that purchases of its US-made aircraft by China could be part of a sweeping trade deal currently being negotiated. Aircraft exports have thus far been spared from retaliatory Chinese tariffs.

Ties between Boeing and Trump run deep

All Boeing 737 Max planes flying in the country have now been grounded. The ban came into effect at 4 pm on Wednesday after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/four-indians-among-those-dead-in-ethiopian-airlines-plane-crash-202378">two recent crashes of the aircraft</a>, one in Ethiopia this Sunday and one in October last year in Indonesia.&nbsp;

"As of now, all flights of Boeing 737 Max have been grounded," Pradeep Singh Kharola, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, said on Wednesday. &nbsp;

Kharola added that the flights were grounded "before the deadline of 4 pm", but he also warned that tomorrow will be "a real challenging day".&nbsp;

"Today, SpiceJet cancelled 14 flights. It operates 500 plus flights daily and 14 were cancelled. They've been able to accommodate all passengers on their own. Tomorrow is going to be a real challenging day, as today grounding came into effect in second half of the day," Kharola said.&nbsp;

He added that the government had had a "discussion with the airlines as to how they plan to reduce inconvenience to passengers".&nbsp;

At the moment, SpiceJet is the only Indian airline flying the Boeing 737 Max 8.&nbsp;

It has 12 of them.&nbsp;

Jet Airlines has 5 of the Boeings, but they were already grounded before the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday.&nbsp;

"SpiceJet says they've increased utilisation of existing aircraft," Kharola said on Wednesday.&nbsp;

He said that "about 30-35 flights will get affected tomorrow" but that SpiceJet have "assured that no airport that has SpiceJet service will go unserviced."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
MoCA Secy: Today SpiceJet has cancelled 14 flights, it operates 500 plus flights daily &amp; 14 were cancelled. They've been able to accommodate all passengers on their own. Tomorrow is going to be a real challenging day, as today grounding came into effect in 2nd half of the day <a href="https://t.co/S7aykJOaf2">pic.twitter.com/S7aykJOaf2</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1105794691751129088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

He added that SpiceJet would set up a special cell to monitor passengers' complaints.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

All Boeing 737 Max planes flying in the country have now been grounded. The ban came into effect at 4 pm on Wednesday after two recent crashes of the aircraft, one in Ethiopia this Sunday and one in October last year in Indonesia.

All Boeing 737 Max planes flying in the country have now been grounded. The ban came into effect at 4 pm on Wednesday after two recent crashes of the aircraft, one in Ethiopia this Sunday and one in October last year in Indonesia. "As of now, all flights of Boeing 737 Max have been grounded," Pradeep Singh Kharola, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, said on Wednesday. Kharola added that the flights were grounded "before the deadline of 4 pm", but he also warned that tomorrow will be "a real challenging day". "Today, SpiceJet cancelled 14 flights. It operates 500 plus flights daily and 14 were cancelled. They've been able to accommodate all passengers on their own. Tomorrow is going to be a real challenging day, as today grounding came into effect in second half of the day," Kharola said. He added that the government had had a "discussion with the airlines as to how they plan to reduce inconvenience to passengers". At the moment, SpiceJet is the only Indian airline flying the Boeing 737 Max 8. It has 12 of them. Jet Airlines has 5 of the Boeings, but they were already grounded before the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday. "SpiceJet says they've increased utilisation of existing aircraft," Kharola said on Wednesday. He said that "about 30-35 flights will get affected tomorrow" but that SpiceJet have "assured that no airport that has SpiceJet service will go unserviced." MoCA Secy: Today SpiceJet has cancelled 14 flights, it operates 500 plus flights daily & 14 were cancelled. They've been able to accommodate all passengers on their own. Tomorrow is going to be a real challenging day, as today grounding came into effect in 2nd half of the day pic.twitter.com/S7aykJOaf2 — ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2019 × He added that SpiceJet would set up a special cell to monitor passengers' complaints.

India: All Boeing 737 Max planes now grounded, government warns tomorrow will be 'real challenging day'

India has grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.&nbsp;

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said late Tuesday that it had banned the aircraft from flying in light of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-call-you-when-i-land-texted-indian-passenger-who-lost-life-in-ethiopia-crash-202892">Ethiopian Airlines crash</a> on Sunday which killed all 157 people, including four Indians, on board.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken the decision to ground the Boeing 737-MAX planes immediately. <a href="https://t.co/jWS7qZaDYQ">pic.twitter.com/jWS7qZaDYQ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1105529965464838144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

This was the second Boeing 737 Max 8 crash in less than five months.&nbsp;

On October 29 last year, a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft belonging to the Indonesian carrier Lion Air <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-boy-bhavye-suneja-was-reportedly-flying-lion-air-plane-that-crashed-with-189-on-board-174149">had crashed into the Java Sea about 12 minutes after taking off</a> from Jakarta.&nbsp;

The Ethiopian Airlines plane, which had been en route to Nairobi, had crashed about six minutes after taking off from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.&nbsp;

"We are likely to ban the use of 737 Max 8 by Indian airlines... The discussions are ongoing," PTI had quoted a DGCA official as saying earlier on Tuesday.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/spicejet-defends-sophisticated-boeing-737-max-202917">SpiceJet</a> currently has around 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five, which are currently grounded.

(With inputs from PTI) 
&nbsp;

India has grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said late Tuesday that it had banned the aircraft from flying in light of the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday which killed all 157 people, including four Indians, on board.

India has grounded all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said late Tuesday that it had banned the aircraft from flying in light of the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday which killed all 157 people, including four Indians, on board. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken the decision to ground the Boeing 737-MAX planes immediately. pic.twitter.com/jWS7qZaDYQ — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2019 × This was the second Boeing 737 Max 8 crash in less than five months. On October 29 last year, a Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft belonging to the Indonesian carrier Lion Air had crashed into the Java Sea about 12 minutes after taking off from Jakarta. The Ethiopian Airlines plane, which had been en route to Nairobi, had crashed about six minutes after taking off from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. "We are likely to ban the use of 737 Max 8 by Indian airlines... The discussions are ongoing," PTI had quoted a DGCA official as saying earlier on Tuesday. SpiceJet currently has around 12 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five, which are currently grounded. (With inputs from PTI)

After second crash in 5 months, India bans Boeing's 737 Max 8 aircraft

India is likely to ban the use of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft by the country's airline companies and the decision on the issue may be taken on Wednesday, a senior official of aviation watchdog DGCA said Tuesday.

On Sunday, a 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed near Addis Ababa killing 157 people, including four Indians.

"We are likely to ban the use of 737 Max 8 by Indian airlines. The final decision is going to be taken by Wednesday. The discussions are ongoing," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official told PTI.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/spicejet-defends-sophisticated-boeing-737-max-202917">SpiceJet has around 12 such aircraft</a> in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five, which are currently grounded.

The incident on Sunday was second such crash involving the 737 MAX 8 aircraft in less than five months. In October last year, an aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed killing over 180 people in Indonesia.

In a tweet on Monday, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu had said that he directed the DGCA to undertake safety assessment of Boeing 737-MAX planes being flown by domestic carriers.&nbsp;

India is likely to ban the use of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft by the country's airline companies and the decision on the issue may be taken on Wednesday, a senior official of aviation watchdog DGCA said Tuesday.

India is likely to ban the use of Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft by the country's airline companies and the decision on the issue may be taken on Wednesday, a senior official of aviation watchdog DGCA said Tuesday. On Sunday, a 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed near Addis Ababa killing 157 people, including four Indians. "We are likely to ban the use of 737 Max 8 by Indian airlines. The final decision is going to be taken by Wednesday. The discussions are ongoing," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official told PTI. SpiceJet has around 12 such aircraft in its fleet, while Jet Airways has five, which are currently grounded. The incident on Sunday was second such crash involving the 737 MAX 8 aircraft in less than five months. In October last year, an aircraft operated by Lion Air crashed killing over 180 people in Indonesia. In a tweet on Monday, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu had said that he directed the DGCA to undertake safety assessment of Boeing 737-MAX planes being flown by domestic carriers.

India may ban Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, decision likely on Wednesday

Britain on Tuesday joined four other countries in banning Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace as a growing number of airlines around the world grounded the jets following a second deadly accident in just five months.

On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board. It came after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189.

Investigators have recovered the black box flight recorders from the Ethiopian Airlines plane, which crashed near Addis Ababa carrying passengers and crew from 35 countries -- including some two dozen UN staff.

US regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the model and insisted they would take action if safety issues are detected.

But it was not enough to reassure aviation authorities in Britain and four other countries -- <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australia-temporarily-suspends-boeing-737-max-service-after-china-singapore-stops-service-202856">Singapore, Australia,</a> Malaysia and Oman -- who temporarily banned all 737 MAX planes from their airspace.

China, a hugely important market for Boeing, had already ordered domestic airlines to suspend operations of the plane Monday, as did Indonesia.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement headlined "Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft" that "as a precautionary measure" it had decided "to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace".

Aviation regulators in Singapore, a global air travel hub and popular transit point for long-haul travellers, said they would work with the country's main airport and "the affected airlines to minimise any impact to travelling passengers".&nbsp;

One Singapore airline, SilkAir, uses 737 MAX aircraft while a handful of foreign airlines operate the planes in the city-state.

In its statement announcing the 737 MAX ban, Malaysia's aviation regulator noted the two recent fatal accidents involving the model.

Oman's Public Authority for Civil Aviation said it was suspending the variant's flights in its jurisdiction "until further notice".

Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Tuesday it would suspend flights of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft until further notice.

Norwegian, which operates 18 of the planes, will keep them grounded pending advice from aviation authorities, operations chief Tomas Hesthammer told AFP in an email.

South Korea meanwhile ordered the only airline in the country that operates the jets to suspend operations of its two MAX 8s. Argentina's flag carrier also grounded five MAX 8 aircraft on Tuesday, as did airlines in countries including South Africa, Brazil and Mexico.

But several airlines said they are not cancelling MAX 8 flights, while US carriers appeared to maintain confidence in the manufacturer.

"The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft," said India's SpiceJet, which has 13 of the MAX 8 variants in its 75-strong fleet.

"It has flown hundreds of thousands of hours globally and some of the world's largest airlines are flying this aircraft," it said in a statement.

'Significant industry impact'

Boeing has described the MAX series as its fastest-selling family of planes, with more than 5,000 orders placed to date from about 100 customers.

But not since the 1970s -- when the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 suffered successive fatal incidents -- has a new model been involved in two deadly accidents in such a short period.

The weekend crash sent Boeing shares nosediving as much as 12 per cent on Monday.

"I think the impact for the industry is significant," said Gerry Soejatman, a Jakarta-based aviation analyst.

"We have a new type of aircraft -- that type of aircraft has only been in service for two years -- and... we have two accidents with seemingly similar circumstances."

The plane involved in Sunday's crash was less than four months old, with Ethiopian Airlines saying it was delivered on November 15.

It went down near the village of Tulu Fara, some 40 miles (60 kilometres) east of Addis Ababa.

Inhabitants of the remote area looked on from behind a security cordon as inspectors searched the crash site and excavated it with a mechanical digger.

The single-aisle jet had left a deep, black crater.

Ethiopian Airlines said the pilot was given clearance to turn around after indicating problems shortly before the plane disappeared from radar.

The airline's chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam said the plane had flown in from Johannesburg early Sunday, spent three hours in Addis and was "dispatched with no remark", meaning no problems were flagged.

The crash cast a pall over a gathering of the UN Environment Programme as it opened in Nairobi -- at least 22 staff from several UN agencies were on board the doomed flight.

Delegates hugged and comforted one another as they arrived at the meeting with the UN flag flying at half-mast.

Other passengers included tourists and business travellers.

Kenya had the highest death toll among the nationalities on the flight with 32, according to Ethiopian Airlines. Canada was next with 18 victims.

There were also passengers from other countries including Ethiopia, Italy, the United States, Britain and France.

Britain on Tuesday joined four other countries in banning Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace as a growing number of airlines around the world grounded the jets following a second deadly accident in just five months.

Britain on Tuesday joined four other countries in banning Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace as a growing number of airlines around the world grounded the jets following a second deadly accident in just five months. On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board. It came after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189. Investigators have recovered the black box flight recorders from the Ethiopian Airlines plane, which crashed near Addis Ababa carrying passengers and crew from 35 countries -- including some two dozen UN staff. US regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the model and insisted they would take action if safety issues are detected. But it was not enough to reassure aviation authorities in Britain and four other countries -- Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Oman -- who temporarily banned all 737 MAX planes from their airspace. China, a hugely important market for Boeing, had already ordered domestic airlines to suspend operations of the plane Monday, as did Indonesia. The UK Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement headlined "Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft" that "as a precautionary measure" it had decided "to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace". Aviation regulators in Singapore, a global air travel hub and popular transit point for long-haul travellers, said they would work with the country's main airport and "the affected airlines to minimise any impact to travelling passengers". One Singapore airline, SilkAir, uses 737 MAX aircraft while a handful of foreign airlines operate the planes in the city-state. In its statement announcing the 737 MAX ban, Malaysia's aviation regulator noted the two recent fatal accidents involving the model. Oman's Public Authority for Civil Aviation said it was suspending the variant's flights in its jurisdiction "until further notice". Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said Tuesday it would suspend flights of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft until further notice. Norwegian, which operates 18 of the planes, will keep them grounded pending advice from aviation authorities, operations chief Tomas Hesthammer told AFP in an email. South Korea meanwhile ordered the only airline in the country that operates the jets to suspend operations of its two MAX 8s. Argentina's flag carrier also grounded five MAX 8 aircraft on Tuesday, as did airlines in countries including South Africa, Brazil and Mexico. But several airlines said they are not cancelling MAX 8 flights, while US carriers appeared to maintain confidence in the manufacturer. "The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft," said India's SpiceJet, which has 13 of the MAX 8 variants in its 75-strong fleet. "It has flown hundreds of thousands of hours globally and some of the world's largest airlines are flying this aircraft," it said in a statement. 'Significant industry impact' Boeing has described the MAX series as its fastest-selling family of planes, with more than 5,000 orders placed to date from about 100 customers. But not since the 1970s -- when the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 suffered successive fatal incidents -- has a new model been involved in two deadly accidents in such a short period. The weekend crash sent Boeing shares nosediving as much as 12 per cent on Monday. "I think the impact for the industry is significant," said Gerry Soejatman, a Jakarta-based aviation analyst. "We have a new type of aircraft -- that type of aircraft has only been in service for two years -- and... we have two accidents with seemingly similar circumstances." The plane involved in Sunday's crash was less than four months old, with Ethiopian Airlines saying it was delivered on November 15. It went down near the village of Tulu Fara, some 40 miles (60 kilometres) east of Addis Ababa. Inhabitants of the remote area looked on from behind a security cordon as inspectors searched the crash site and excavated it with a mechanical digger. The single-aisle jet had left a deep, black crater. Ethiopian Airlines said the pilot was given clearance to turn around after indicating problems shortly before the plane disappeared from radar. The airline's chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam said the plane had flown in from Johannesburg early Sunday, spent three hours in Addis and was "dispatched with no remark", meaning no problems were flagged. The crash cast a pall over a gathering of the UN Environment Programme as it opened in Nairobi -- at least 22 staff from several UN agencies were on board the doomed flight. Delegates hugged and comforted one another as they arrived at the meeting with the UN flag flying at half-mast. Other passengers included tourists and business travellers. Kenya had the highest death toll among the nationalities on the flight with 32, according to Ethiopian Airlines. Canada was next with 18 victims. There were also passengers from other countries including Ethiopia, Italy, the United States, Britain and France.

Britain joins wave of countries banning Boeing 737 MAX jets after Ethiopia crash

Boeing Co's stock took another beating on Tuesday, knocking off more than $25 billion from the planemaker's market value over the past two days, as more countries lined up to ground its 737 MAX 8 aircraft following Sunday's deadly crash in Ethiopia.

Britain joined China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and other countries in banning the 737 MAX planes, squeezing the shares, which had been one of best-performing stocks so far this year on the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

Boeing shares have delivered a total return - including reinvested dividends - of nearly four times the performance of the full index since US stocks began rebounding from the 2007-09 financial crisis.

The stock fell 7 per cent to $372 in midday trade on Tuesday, adding to a 5 per cent decline on Monday. The losses set the stock for its biggest two-day percentage drop since June 2009.

Shares of US airlines were broadly lower in midday trade, with the S&amp;P 1500 airlines index off 1.5 per cent. Southwest Airlines Co and American Airlines Group Inc, which analysts said were among the US airlines most exposed to the Boeing aircraft model at issue, saw their shares fall more than 2 per cent.

At least seven of the 24 analysts covering the stock have reviewed their ratings over the last two days, with two downgrades and one price target cut so far, according to Refinitiv data.

DZ Bank became the first brokerage in nearly two years to place a "sell" rating on the stock, while setting a price target of $333 - the lowest on Wall Street.

Brokerage Edward Jones also downgraded the stock to "hold" from "buy", saying the accidents could result in additional expenses, some order delays and pressure financial results.

The single-aisle 737, the world's most-sold commercial aircraft, is central to Boeing's future. The MAX line is the fastest-selling jetliner in the company's history with more than 5,000 orders booked and a backlog valued at nearly $500 billion at list prices.

The United States will mandate that Boeing implement design changes by April, but said the plane was airworthy and did not need to be grounded.

Boeing defended its aircraft and said it has "full confidence in the safety of the Max."

Safety experts say it is too early to speculate on what caused Sunday's crash and black box recorders were yet to yield the cause.

Boeing Co's stock took another beating on Tuesday, knocking off more than $25 billion from the planemaker's market value over the past two days, as more countries lined up to ground its 737 MAX 8 aircraft following Sunday's deadly crash in Ethiopia.

Boeing Co's stock took another beating on Tuesday, knocking off more than $25 billion from the planemaker's market value over the past two days, as more countries lined up to ground its 737 MAX 8 aircraft following Sunday's deadly crash in Ethiopia. Britain joined China, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and other countries in banning the 737 MAX planes, squeezing the shares, which had been one of best-performing stocks so far this year on the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Boeing shares have delivered a total return - including reinvested dividends - of nearly four times the performance of the full index since US stocks began rebounding from the 2007-09 financial crisis. The stock fell 7 per cent to $372 in midday trade on Tuesday, adding to a 5 per cent decline on Monday. The losses set the stock for its biggest two-day percentage drop since June 2009. Shares of US airlines were broadly lower in midday trade, with the S&P 1500 airlines index off 1.5 per cent. Southwest Airlines Co and American Airlines Group Inc, which analysts said were among the US airlines most exposed to the Boeing aircraft model at issue, saw their shares fall more than 2 per cent. At least seven of the 24 analysts covering the stock have reviewed their ratings over the last two days, with two downgrades and one price target cut so far, according to Refinitiv data. DZ Bank became the first brokerage in nearly two years to place a "sell" rating on the stock, while setting a price target of $333 - the lowest on Wall Street. Brokerage Edward Jones also downgraded the stock to "hold" from "buy", saying the accidents could result in additional expenses, some order delays and pressure financial results. The single-aisle 737, the world's most-sold commercial aircraft, is central to Boeing's future. The MAX line is the fastest-selling jetliner in the company's history with more than 5,000 orders booked and a backlog valued at nearly $500 billion at list prices. The United States will mandate that Boeing implement design changes by April, but said the plane was airworthy and did not need to be grounded. Boeing defended its aircraft and said it has "full confidence in the safety of the Max." Safety experts say it is too early to speculate on what caused Sunday's crash and black box recorders were yet to yield the cause.

Boeing shares take another hit as more countries ground 737 MAX 8 planes

A number of countries have banned Boeing's 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet from their airspace in response to the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board.

Several individual airlines have grounded their B-737 MAX 8 aircraft but many others are continuing to fly the plane pending an investigation into the crash and possible guidance from Boeing itself.

The Nairobi-bound plane was the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- and some officials have detected similarities between the two accidents.

There are some 350 737 MAX 8 planes currently in service around the world with more than 5,000 on order.

Countries banning B-737 MAX planes

Australia:

Australia barred Boeing 737 MAX planes from its airspace. Fiji Airways is the only 737 MAX operator affected by the Australian ban, according to Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as Singapore-based SilkAir's planes were already covered by a ban imposed by the city-state.

Britain: 
In Britain, the authorities said that "as a precautionary measure" on the plane, they had decided "to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace".

China: 
Beijing Monday ordered domestic airlines to suspend the operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, citing the two crashes.

Noting "similarities" between the two incidents, China said operation of the model would only resume after "confirming the relevant measures to effectively ensure flight safety".

France: 
The French civil aviation authority banned B-737 MAX aircraft from French airspace "as a precautionary measure".&nbsp;

Germany: 
Germany banned all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes from its airspace.

"Safety comes first. Until all doubts have been cleared up, I have ordered that German airspace be closed to all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with immediate effect," Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said.

There are currently no 737 MAX planes registered in Germany.

Indonesia: 
Indonesia said it was grounding 11 jets of the 737 MAX 8 type.

The planes would remain grounded until they were cleared by safety regulators, Director General of Air Transport Polana Pramesti said.

Ireland: 
Ireland banned "all variants" of the Boeing 737 MAX from its airspace.

Malaysia: 
Malaysia banned the plane from its airspace. No Malaysian carriers currently operate the model, the aviation authority said.

Mongolia:&nbsp; 
The Mongolian Civil Aviation Authority said on Facebook it had ordered the state carrier MIAT Mongolian Airlines to ground the sole Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in its fleet.

Oman: 
Oman suspended Boeing 737 MAX flights "until further notice".

Singapore:&nbsp; 
Singapore banned the aircraft from its airspace.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said it was "temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore" in light of the two recent accidents.

Airlines grounding B-737 MAX jets&nbsp;

Aerolineas Argentinas: 
Argentina's flagship carrier suspended operation of its five 737 MAX 8s pending the result of investigations into the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines plane. Earlier its pilots had refused to fly the jet.

Aeromexico: 
Aeromexico, which has six 737 MAX 8s in its fleet, grounded the aircraft.

Cayman Airways: 
Cayman Airways CEO Fabian Whorms said it would suspend flights for its two 737 MAX 8 planes "until more information is received".

Comair: 
South African airline Comair said it had "decided to remove its 737 MAX from its flight schedule".

Eastar Jet: 
Eastar Jet, the only South Korean airline owning the aircraft, was told by the country's government to ground them.

Ethiopian Airlines: 
Ethiopian Airlines said Monday it had grounded its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet "until further notice".

"Although we don't yet know the cause of the accident, we have to decide to ground the particular fleet as an extra safety precaution," said the state-owned carrier, Africa's largest.

Gol Airlines: 
Brazil's Gol Airlines said it was temporarily suspending use of the plane.

Icelandair: 
Icelandair suspended its Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.

Norwegian: 
Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said it would suspend flights of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft "until advised otherwise by the relevant aviation authorities".

TUI: 
German carrier TUI fly, owned by Germany's TUI travel group, said it would ground its 15 aircraft of the B-737 MAX type which are stationed in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Turkish Airlines: 
Turkish Airlines said it was suspending flights using its fleet of 12 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Currently no ban on B-737 MAX planes&nbsp;

Dubai: 
Airline Flydubai said it was "monitoring the situation" and it was "confident in the airworthiness of our fleet".

India: 
India's aviation regulator said Monday that it had imposed additional "interim" safety requirements for ground engineers and crew for the aircraft, but stopped short of ordering their grounding.&nbsp;

Indian airline SpiceJet, which flies 13 B-737 MAX 8 planes, jumped to the defence of the plane, calling it "a highly sophisticated aircraft".

Italy: 
Air Italy said it would follow all directives "to ensure the maximum level of safety and security". In the meantime, its planes remain in the air.

Russia: 
Russian airline S7 said it was closely following the crash investigation and was in contact with Boeing, but had received no instructions to stop flying the 737 MAX 8.

US: 
The US Federal Aviation Administration said it would not make any decision until it has more evidence.

"No updates so far. We continue to be involved in the accident investigation and will make decisions on any further steps based on the evidence," FAA spokesperson Lynn Lunsford told AFP.

Boeing, which has sent experts to assist in the Ethiopia probe, said safety is its "number one priority".

"The investigation is in its early stages, but at this point, based on the information available, we do not have any basis to issue new guidance to operators," it said in a statement.

Southwest Airlines, which operates 34 of the 737 MAX 8 planes, said: "We remain confident in the safety and airworthiness of our fleet of more than 750 Boeing aircraft."

A source told AFP that American Airlines planned to continue operating its two dozen 737 MAX 8s.&nbsp;

A number of countries have banned Boeing's 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet from their airspace in response to the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board.

A number of countries have banned Boeing's 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet from their airspace in response to the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board. Several individual airlines have grounded their B-737 MAX 8 aircraft but many others are continuing to fly the plane pending an investigation into the crash and possible guidance from Boeing itself. The Nairobi-bound plane was the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- and some officials have detected similarities between the two accidents. There are some 350 737 MAX 8 planes currently in service around the world with more than 5,000 on order. Countries banning B-737 MAX planes Australia: Australia barred Boeing 737 MAX planes from its airspace. Fiji Airways is the only 737 MAX operator affected by the Australian ban, according to Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, as Singapore-based SilkAir's planes were already covered by a ban imposed by the city-state. Britain: In Britain, the authorities said that "as a precautionary measure" on the plane, they had decided "to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace". China: Beijing Monday ordered domestic airlines to suspend the operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, citing the two crashes. Noting "similarities" between the two incidents, China said operation of the model would only resume after "confirming the relevant measures to effectively ensure flight safety". France: The French civil aviation authority banned B-737 MAX aircraft from French airspace "as a precautionary measure". Germany: Germany banned all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes from its airspace. "Safety comes first. Until all doubts have been cleared up, I have ordered that German airspace be closed to all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with immediate effect," Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer said. There are currently no 737 MAX planes registered in Germany. Indonesia: Indonesia said it was grounding 11 jets of the 737 MAX 8 type. The planes would remain grounded until they were cleared by safety regulators, Director General of Air Transport Polana Pramesti said. Ireland: Ireland banned "all variants" of the Boeing 737 MAX from its airspace. Malaysia: Malaysia banned the plane from its airspace. No Malaysian carriers currently operate the model, the aviation authority said. Mongolia: The Mongolian Civil Aviation Authority said on Facebook it had ordered the state carrier MIAT Mongolian Airlines to ground the sole Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in its fleet. Oman: Oman suspended Boeing 737 MAX flights "until further notice". Singapore: Singapore banned the aircraft from its airspace. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said it was "temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore" in light of the two recent accidents. Airlines grounding B-737 MAX jets Aerolineas Argentinas: Argentina's flagship carrier suspended operation of its five 737 MAX 8s pending the result of investigations into the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines plane. Earlier its pilots had refused to fly the jet. Aeromexico: Aeromexico, which has six 737 MAX 8s in its fleet, grounded the aircraft. Cayman Airways: Cayman Airways CEO Fabian Whorms said it would suspend flights for its two 737 MAX 8 planes "until more information is received". Comair: South African airline Comair said it had "decided to remove its 737 MAX from its flight schedule". Eastar Jet: Eastar Jet, the only South Korean airline owning the aircraft, was told by the country's government to ground them. Ethiopian Airlines: Ethiopian Airlines said Monday it had grounded its Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet "until further notice". "Although we don't yet know the cause of the accident, we have to decide to ground the particular fleet as an extra safety precaution," said the state-owned carrier, Africa's largest. Gol Airlines: Brazil's Gol Airlines said it was temporarily suspending use of the plane. Icelandair: Icelandair suspended its Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes. Norwegian: Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle said it would suspend flights of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft "until advised otherwise by the relevant aviation authorities". TUI: German carrier TUI fly, owned by Germany's TUI travel group, said it would ground its 15 aircraft of the B-737 MAX type which are stationed in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines said it was suspending flights using its fleet of 12 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Currently no ban on B-737 MAX planes Dubai: Airline Flydubai said it was "monitoring the situation" and it was "confident in the airworthiness of our fleet". India: India's aviation regulator said Monday that it had imposed additional "interim" safety requirements for ground engineers and crew for the aircraft, but stopped short of ordering their grounding. Indian airline SpiceJet, which flies 13 B-737 MAX 8 planes, jumped to the defence of the plane, calling it "a highly sophisticated aircraft". Italy: Air Italy said it would follow all directives "to ensure the maximum level of safety and security". In the meantime, its planes remain in the air. Russia: Russian airline S7 said it was closely following the crash investigation and was in contact with Boeing, but had received no instructions to stop flying the 737 MAX 8. US: The US Federal Aviation Administration said it would not make any decision until it has more evidence. "No updates so far. We continue to be involved in the accident investigation and will make decisions on any further steps based on the evidence," FAA spokesperson Lynn Lunsford told AFP. Boeing, which has sent experts to assist in the Ethiopia probe, said safety is its "number one priority". "The investigation is in its early stages, but at this point, based on the information available, we do not have any basis to issue new guidance to operators," it said in a statement. Southwest Airlines, which operates 34 of the 737 MAX 8 planes, said: "We remain confident in the safety and airworthiness of our fleet of more than 750 Boeing aircraft." A source told AFP that American Airlines planned to continue operating its two dozen 737 MAX 8s.

Nations, airlines grounding Boeing's 737 MAX

Boeing&nbsp;Co confirmed late on Monday it will deploy a software upgrade to the 737 MAX 8, a few hours after the Federal Aviation Administration said it would mandate "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-737-max-8-airworthy-but-it-will-make-design-changes-us-202724">design changes</a>" in the aircraft by April.

Boeing&nbsp;did not give any reference of Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash in connection to the software upgrade. The statement did express the company's condolences to the relatives of the 157 people who died, however.

The company said in the aftermath of October's Lion Air Flight crash it has for several months "been developing a flight control software enhancement for the 737 MAX, designed to make an already safe aircraft even safer".

"The software upgrade "will be deployed across the 737 MAX fleet in the coming weeks," it said.

An&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-plane-crash-investigators-recover-black-boxes-from-boeing-737-max-8-202673">Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 bound for Nairobi crashed</a>&nbsp;minutes after take-off on Sunday, killing all 157 aboard and raising questions about the safety of the new variant of the industry workhorse, one of which also&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/indonesia-lion-air-plane-with-189-on-board-crashes-into-sea-authorities-search-for-remains-174139">crashed in Indonesia in October</a>, killing 189 people.

Boeing's shares fell as much as 10 per cent on the prospect that two such crashes in such a short time could reveal flaws in its new plane. Boeing, whose shares closed down 5.3 per cent at $400.01 in the heaviest trading trade since July 2013, did not immediately comment.

China ordered its airlines to ground the jet, a move followed by Indonesia and Ethiopia. Other airlines, from North America to the Middle East, kept flying the 737 MAX 8 on Monday after Boeing said it was safe.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Boeing Co confirmed late on Monday it will deploy a software upgrade to the 737 MAX 8, a few hours after the Federal Aviation Administration said it would mandate "design changes" in the aircraft by April.

Boeing Co confirmed late on Monday it will deploy a software upgrade to the 737 MAX 8, a few hours after the Federal Aviation Administration said it would mandate "design changes" in the aircraft by April. Boeing did not give any reference of Sunday's Ethiopian Airlines crash in connection to the software upgrade. The statement did express the company's condolences to the relatives of the 157 people who died, however. The company said in the aftermath of October's Lion Air Flight crash it has for several months "been developing a flight control software enhancement for the 737 MAX, designed to make an already safe aircraft even safer". "The software upgrade "will be deployed across the 737 MAX fleet in the coming weeks," it said. An Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 bound for Nairobi crashed minutes after take-off on Sunday, killing all 157 aboard and raising questions about the safety of the new variant of the industry workhorse, one of which also crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189 people. Boeing's shares fell as much as 10 per cent on the prospect that two such crashes in such a short time could reveal flaws in its new plane. Boeing, whose shares closed down 5.3 per cent at $400.01 in the heaviest trading trade since July 2013, did not immediately comment. China ordered its airlines to ground the jet, a move followed by Indonesia and Ethiopia. Other airlines, from North America to the Middle East, kept flying the 737 MAX 8 on Monday after Boeing said it was safe.

Will upgrade software in 737 MAX 8 fleet in coming weeks: Boeing

As investigators probe the latest deadly crash of Boeing's bestselling airliner, US President Donald Trump weighed in Tuesday with his own explanation: modern planes are too complicated for pilots.

"<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/will-call-you-when-i-land-texted-indian-passenger-who-lost-life-in-ethiopia-crash-202892">Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly</a>," he tweeted, adding that instead of pilots, the planes require "computer scientists from MIT."

"I don't know about you, but I don't want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane!" Trump added in a second tweet.

"I see it all the time in many products," the president continued. "Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly. Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT. I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better. Split second decisions are....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105468569800839169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
....needed, and the complexity creates danger. All of this for great cost yet very little gain. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1105471621672960000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Trump's technical analysis came two days after a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 belonging to Ethiopian Airlines went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 aboard.&nbsp;

In October, a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189.

As investigators probe the latest deadly crash of Boeing's bestselling airliner, US President Donald Trump weighed in Tuesday with his own explanation: modern planes are too complicated for pilots.

As investigators probe the latest deadly crash of Boeing's bestselling airliner, US President Donald Trump weighed in Tuesday with his own explanation: modern planes are too complicated for pilots. "Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly," he tweeted, adding that instead of pilots, the planes require "computer scientists from MIT." "I don't know about you, but I don't want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane!" Trump added in a second tweet. "I see it all the time in many products," the president continued. "Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better." Airplanes are becoming far too complex to fly. Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT. I see it all the time in many products. Always seeking to go one unnecessary step further, when often old and simpler is far better. Split second decisions are.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2019 × ....needed, and the complexity creates danger. All of this for great cost yet very little gain. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want Albert Einstein to be my pilot. I want great flying professionals that are allowed to easily and quickly take control of a plane! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2019 × Trump's technical analysis came two days after a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 belonging to Ethiopian Airlines went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 aboard. In October, a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189.

Trump says today's airplanes are 'too complex to fly'

Indian airline SpiceJet jumped to the defence of the Boeing 737 MAX on Tuesday even as countries grounded the aircraft following the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

"The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft," SpiceJet, which has 13 B-737 MAX 8 planes in its 75-aircraft fleet, said in a statement.

"It has flown hundreds of thousands of hours globally and some of the world's largest airlines are flying this aircraft," it added.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/australia-temporarily-suspends-boeing-737-max-service-after-china-singapore-stops-service-202856">South Korea on Tuesday became the latest countr</a>y to suspend operations of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, following Singapore, China and Indonesia.

Australia barred all 737 MAX planes from its airspace while US authorities ordered Boeing to improve anti-stalling software and the model's manoeuvring system.

On Sunday an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board.&nbsp;

It came after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189.

India's aviation regulator said Monday it had imposed additional "interim" safety requirements for ground engineers and crew for the aircraft but stopped short of ordering their grounding.

SpiceJet said it had implemented the additional "precautionary measures" and was "actively engaged" with Boeing and the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The only other Indian airline to have the Boeing in its fleet is Jet Airways.

Jet, which has had to ground parts of its fleet in recent weeks due to its financial woes, said earlier that none of its five B-737 MAX aircraft was in operation.

SpiceJet was relaunched as a low-cost carrier in 2004 after being bought by industrialist Ajay Singh. It is now India's number four airline.

India's aviation sector is expected to become the world's third-largest by 2025, with passenger numbers booming six-fold over the past decade. 
&nbsp;

Indian airline SpiceJet jumped to the defence of the Boeing 737 MAX on Tuesday even as countries grounded the aircraft following the Ethiopian Airlines crash. "The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft," SpiceJet, which has 13 B-737 MAX 8 planes in its 75-aircraft fleet, said in a statement.

Indian airline SpiceJet jumped to the defence of the Boeing 737 MAX on Tuesday even as countries grounded the aircraft following the Ethiopian Airlines crash. "The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft," SpiceJet, which has 13 B-737 MAX 8 planes in its 75-aircraft fleet, said in a statement. "It has flown hundreds of thousands of hours globally and some of the world's largest airlines are flying this aircraft," it added. South Korea on Tuesday became the latest country to suspend operations of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, following Singapore, China and Indonesia. Australia barred all 737 MAX planes from its airspace while US authorities ordered Boeing to improve anti-stalling software and the model's manoeuvring system. On Sunday an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board. It came after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia in October, killing 189. India's aviation regulator said Monday it had imposed additional "interim" safety requirements for ground engineers and crew for the aircraft but stopped short of ordering their grounding. SpiceJet said it had implemented the additional "precautionary measures" and was "actively engaged" with Boeing and the Indian Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The only other Indian airline to have the Boeing in its fleet is Jet Airways. Jet, which has had to ground parts of its fleet in recent weeks due to its financial woes, said earlier that none of its five B-737 MAX aircraft was in operation. SpiceJet was relaunched as a low-cost carrier in 2004 after being bought by industrialist Ajay Singh. It is now India's number four airline. India's aviation sector is expected to become the world's third-largest by 2025, with passenger numbers booming six-fold over the past decade.

SpiceJet defends 'sophisticated' Boeing 737 MAX

Malaysia on Tuesday banned Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from its airspace, the aviation regulator said, becoming the latest country to do so following a deadly plane crash in Ethiopia.

"The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia with immediate effect is suspending the operations of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft flying to or from Malaysia and transiting in Malaysia until further notice," said a statement from the regulator's chief executive Ahmad Nizar Zolfakar.

The statement noted there had been "two fatal aircraft accidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in less than five months".&nbsp;

No Malaysian carriers currently operate the model, the aviation authority said. It did not say which airlines regularly operate the planes in the country's airspace.

However, flag carrier Malaysia Airlines has ordered a number of 737 MAX aircraft, and the government on Monday ordered an urgent review into the planned purchase.

Earlier Tuesday, Singapore and Australia both barred Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace, while airlines around the world have grounded the jets.

On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board.

The crash came after a Lion Air jet of the same model went down in Indonesia in October, killing 189.

Oman also suspended takeoffs and landings by Boeing 737 MAX planes at its airports, said its aviation authority, making it the latest country to do so after a deadly crash in Ethiopia.

The Public Authority for Civil Aviation "is temporarily suspending operations of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of all Omani airports until further notice," it said in a statement on Twitter.&nbsp;

Malaysia on Tuesday banned Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from its airspace, the aviation regulator said, becoming the latest country to do so following a deadly plane crash in Ethiopia.

Malaysia on Tuesday banned Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft from its airspace, the aviation regulator said, becoming the latest country to do so following a deadly plane crash in Ethiopia. "The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia with immediate effect is suspending the operations of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft flying to or from Malaysia and transiting in Malaysia until further notice," said a statement from the regulator's chief executive Ahmad Nizar Zolfakar. The statement noted there had been "two fatal aircraft accidents involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in less than five months". No Malaysian carriers currently operate the model, the aviation authority said. It did not say which airlines regularly operate the planes in the country's airspace. However, flag carrier Malaysia Airlines has ordered a number of 737 MAX aircraft, and the government on Monday ordered an urgent review into the planned purchase. Earlier Tuesday, Singapore and Australia both barred Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace, while airlines around the world have grounded the jets. On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board. The crash came after a Lion Air jet of the same model went down in Indonesia in October, killing 189. Oman also suspended takeoffs and landings by Boeing 737 MAX planes at its airports, said its aviation authority, making it the latest country to do so after a deadly crash in Ethiopia. The Public Authority for Civil Aviation "is temporarily suspending operations of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of all Omani airports until further notice," it said in a statement on Twitter.

Malaysia bans Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes from its airspace

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/search-for-black-box-of-crashed-ethiopian-airliner-continues-202461">Ethiopian Airlines</a> has grounded its Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 fleet until further notice, the airline said on its Twitter account on Monday, a day after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-boeing-737-plane-crashes-on-way-to-kenya-with-149-passengers-on-board-202327">crash killed all 157 people </a>on board one of its planes of the same type.

"Although we don't yet know the cause of the crash, we had to decide to ground the particular fleet as extra safety precaution," the airline said.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Accident Bulletin no. 5 Issued on March 11, 2019 at 07:08 AM Local Time <a href="https://t.co/rwxa51Fgij">pic.twitter.com/rwxa51Fgij</a>
— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) <a href="https://twitter.com/flyethiopian/status/1104965069710999552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Ethiopian Airlines has a fleet of four 737 MAX 8 jets, not counting the one that crashed on Sunday, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-orders-its-airlines-to-suspend-use-of-boeing-737-max-aircraft-202485">China on Monday ordered its airlines</a> to suspend operations of their 737 MAX 8 jets by 6 pm following the crash in Ethiopia, the second of a Boeing 737 MAX jet since one operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed in October.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x7OEe25_ad8" width="1280"></iframe>

It was the second crash of the 737 MAX, the latest version of Boeing's workhorse narrowbody jet that first entered service in 2017.

In October, a 737 MAX was flown by Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air flying from Jakarta on a domestic flight crashed 13 minutes after take-off, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board.

Ethiopian Airlines has grounded its Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 fleet until further notice, the airline said on its Twitter account on Monday, a day after a crash killed all 157 people on board one of its planes of the same type.

Ethiopian Airlines has grounded its Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 fleet until further notice, the airline said on its Twitter account on Monday, a day after a crash killed all 157 people on board one of its planes of the same type. "Although we don't yet know the cause of the crash, we had to decide to ground the particular fleet as extra safety precaution," the airline said. Accident Bulletin no. 5 Issued on March 11, 2019 at 07:08 AM Local Time pic.twitter.com/rwxa51Fgij — Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 11, 2019 × Ethiopian Airlines has a fleet of four 737 MAX 8 jets, not counting the one that crashed on Sunday, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24. China on Monday ordered its airlines to suspend operations of their 737 MAX 8 jets by 6 pm following the crash in Ethiopia, the second of a Boeing 737 MAX jet since one operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed in October. It was the second crash of the 737 MAX, the latest version of Boeing's workhorse narrowbody jet that first entered service in 2017. In October, a 737 MAX was flown by Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air flying from Jakarta on a domestic flight crashed 13 minutes after take-off, killing all 189 passengers and crew on board.

Ethiopian Airlines grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet after crash

Airlines in Ethiopia, China and Indonesia grounded Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets Monday as<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/black-box-from-crashed-ethiopian-airlines-flight-recovered-report-202611"> investigators recovered the black boxes</a> from a brand-new passenger jet that crashed outside Addis Ababa a day earlier, killing all 157 people on board.

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-pilot-reported-difficulties-had-asked-to-return-202389">Nairobi-bound plane</a> -- the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- smashed into a field just six minutes after takeoff as the pilot alerted controllers of "difficulties".

Hopes were raised Monday of finding answers for the deaths of people from 35 countries, including two dozen UN staff, that prompted Ethiopia to declare a day of mourning.

"After tedious search by the rescue and investigation team... Ethiopian Airlines announces that the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of ET302 have been recovered," the state-owned carrier said in a statement, using the flight number.

The airline, Africa's largest, added it had grounded its fleet of six remaining Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes pending information "assumed to be found from the black box data."

This followed on the heels of China, which ordered domestic airlines to suspend the commercial operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. There were eight Chinese nationals among the 149 passengers and eight crew on board the ill-fated flight.

Indonesia, which has 11 of the planes, said it would "carry out inspections and temporarily prohibit Boeing 737 Max 8 from flying."

Boeing has described the MAX series as its fastest-selling airplane ever, with more than 5,000 orders placed to date from about 100 customers.&nbsp;

State-owned Ethiopian Airlines had ordered 30 MAX 8 jets in total, and China has received 76 from an order of 180.

The plane that crashed Sunday was less than four months old. It had been delivered on November 15, Ethiopian Airlines said.

Plane on fire

The jet fell near the village of Tulu Fara, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) east of Addis Ababa.

Witness Tegegn Dechasa told AFP "the plane was already on fire when it crashed to the ground. The crash caused a big explosion."

Another, farmer Sisay Gemechu, said: "The plane seemed to be aiming to land at a nearby level open field, but crashed before reaching there."

As inhabitants of the remote part of Ethiopia looked on from behind a security cordon, inspectors pursued their search for plane debris, passenger belongings and human remains Monday.

The single-aisle Boeing left a deep, black crater at the impact site, which was being dug up with a mechanical excavator.

As Ethiopia prepared to receive loved ones seeking victims' remains and belongings, a UN gathering in Nairobi opened under a shadow.

At least 22 staff from different UN agencies were on the flight, many headed for an annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme.

Delegates arrived with the UN flag flying at half-mast, hugging and comforting one another as they wondered who among the staff may have been on the plane.

Nairobi hosts the global headquarters of UNEP and UN-Habitat, and is the regional seat of other UN agencies.

"Let us reflect that our colleagues were willing to travel and to work far from their homes and loved ones to make the world a better place to live," UN-Habitat head Maimunah Sharif told some of those gathered.

Author, student, humanitarians

Pope Francis added his voice Monday to the global outpouring of condolences from the UN, Western and African leaders, offering "prayers".

Ethiopian Airlines said the pilot was given clearance to turn around after flagging difficulties to airport authorities before the plane disappeared from radar.

Carrier flydubai said Monday it would not ground its MAX 8 Boeings, with a spokesperson saying: "We remain confident in the airworthiness of our fleet."

South Korea said it had sent a team of four inspectors to a low-budget airliner, Eastar Jet, that runs two B737 MAX 8 planes, and Royal Air Maroc said its sole MAX 8 was undergoing maintenance.

A committee comprising Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and Ethiopian Transport Authority was set up to led the investigation, in which American experts will also take part.

Details of the passengers, including tourists, business travellers and humanitarians, have started to emerge.

Among them was Cedric Asiavugwa, a Kenyan third-year student at Georgetown University Law School in Washington, visiting home ahead of his graduation in the spring, he university said.

Kenya had the highest death toll with 32, according to the airline.

Canada followed with 18 victims, including Nigerian-born author Pius Adesanmi, who directed the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University.

Nine Ethiopians were among the victims, with eight each from Italy and the United States. The airline said Britain and France each had seven people on board, Egypt six, and Germany five.

France, however, put its death toll at nine.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said the plane had flown in from Johannesburg early Sunday, spent three hours in Addis and was "despatched with no remark", meaning no problems were flagged, before taking off again.&nbsp;

Airlines in Ethiopia, China and Indonesia grounded Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets Monday as investigators recovered the black boxes from a brand-new passenger jet that crashed outside Addis Ababa a day earlier, killing all 157 people on board.

Airlines in Ethiopia, China and Indonesia grounded Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets Monday as investigators recovered the black boxes from a brand-new passenger jet that crashed outside Addis Ababa a day earlier, killing all 157 people on board. The Nairobi-bound plane -- the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- smashed into a field just six minutes after takeoff as the pilot alerted controllers of "difficulties". Hopes were raised Monday of finding answers for the deaths of people from 35 countries, including two dozen UN staff, that prompted Ethiopia to declare a day of mourning. "After tedious search by the rescue and investigation team... Ethiopian Airlines announces that the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of ET302 have been recovered," the state-owned carrier said in a statement, using the flight number. The airline, Africa's largest, added it had grounded its fleet of six remaining Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes pending information "assumed to be found from the black box data." This followed on the heels of China, which ordered domestic airlines to suspend the commercial operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. There were eight Chinese nationals among the 149 passengers and eight crew on board the ill-fated flight. Indonesia, which has 11 of the planes, said it would "carry out inspections and temporarily prohibit Boeing 737 Max 8 from flying." Boeing has described the MAX series as its fastest-selling airplane ever, with more than 5,000 orders placed to date from about 100 customers. State-owned Ethiopian Airlines had ordered 30 MAX 8 jets in total, and China has received 76 from an order of 180. The plane that crashed Sunday was less than four months old. It had been delivered on November 15, Ethiopian Airlines said. Plane on fire The jet fell near the village of Tulu Fara, some 60 kilometres (40 miles) east of Addis Ababa. Witness Tegegn Dechasa told AFP "the plane was already on fire when it crashed to the ground. The crash caused a big explosion." Another, farmer Sisay Gemechu, said: "The plane seemed to be aiming to land at a nearby level open field, but crashed before reaching there." As inhabitants of the remote part of Ethiopia looked on from behind a security cordon, inspectors pursued their search for plane debris, passenger belongings and human remains Monday. The single-aisle Boeing left a deep, black crater at the impact site, which was being dug up with a mechanical excavator. As Ethiopia prepared to receive loved ones seeking victims' remains and belongings, a UN gathering in Nairobi opened under a shadow. At least 22 staff from different UN agencies were on the flight, many headed for an annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme. Delegates arrived with the UN flag flying at half-mast, hugging and comforting one another as they wondered who among the staff may have been on the plane. Nairobi hosts the global headquarters of UNEP and UN-Habitat, and is the regional seat of other UN agencies. "Let us reflect that our colleagues were willing to travel and to work far from their homes and loved ones to make the world a better place to live," UN-Habitat head Maimunah Sharif told some of those gathered. Author, student, humanitarians Pope Francis added his voice Monday to the global outpouring of condolences from the UN, Western and African leaders, offering "prayers". Ethiopian Airlines said the pilot was given clearance to turn around after flagging difficulties to airport authorities before the plane disappeared from radar. Carrier flydubai said Monday it would not ground its MAX 8 Boeings, with a spokesperson saying: "We remain confident in the airworthiness of our fleet." South Korea said it had sent a team of four inspectors to a low-budget airliner, Eastar Jet, that runs two B737 MAX 8 planes, and Royal Air Maroc said its sole MAX 8 was undergoing maintenance. A committee comprising Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and Ethiopian Transport Authority was set up to led the investigation, in which American experts will also take part. Details of the passengers, including tourists, business travellers and humanitarians, have started to emerge. Among them was Cedric Asiavugwa, a Kenyan third-year student at Georgetown University Law School in Washington, visiting home ahead of his graduation in the spring, he university said. Kenya had the highest death toll with 32, according to the airline. Canada followed with 18 victims, including Nigerian-born author Pius Adesanmi, who directed the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University. Nine Ethiopians were among the victims, with eight each from Italy and the United States. The airline said Britain and France each had seven people on board, Egypt six, and Germany five. France, however, put its death toll at nine. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said the plane had flown in from Johannesburg early Sunday, spent three hours in Addis and was "despatched with no remark", meaning no problems were flagged, before taking off again.

Ethiopian plane crash: Investigators recover black boxes from Boeing 737 MAX 8

A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines</a> Boeing plane that crashed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-pilot-reported-difficulties-had-asked-to-return-202389">killing all on board</a>, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight.

"I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time," Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled "My lucky day" in which he includes a photo of his ticket.

Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a non-profit organization, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency.

He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed.

He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff.

"They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn't board the ET 302 flight that was lost," Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock.

The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn't on board.

"They said they couldn't let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn't boarded the plane etc." The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 crashed just minutes after an early-morning takeoff Sunday from Addis Ababa.

People holding passports from more than 30 countries were on board including a number of UN workers.

State-owned Ethiopian Airline had taken delivery of the Boeing 737-800 MAX plane on November 15. It was of the same type as a plane that crashed in October after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing plane that crashed killing all on board, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight.

A Greek man said on Sunday he would have been the 150th passenger on the Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines Boeing plane that crashed killing all on board, except he arrived two minutes late for the flight. "I was mad because nobody helped me to reach the gate on time," Antonis Mavropoulos said in a Facebook post entitled "My lucky day" in which he includes a photo of his ticket. Mavropoulos, president of the International Solid Waste Association, a non-profit organization, was travelling to Nairobi to attend the annual assembly of the UN Environment Programme, according to Athens News Agency. He was supposed to board the plane but he reached the departure gate just two minutes after it was closed. He booked a later flight but was then prevented from boarding by airport staff. "They led me to the police station of the airport. The officer told me not to protest but to pray to God because I was the only passenger that didn't board the ET 302 flight that was lost," Mavropoulos said in his post in which he admits being in shock. The airport authorities explained that they wanted to question him because he was the only passenger booked onto the doomed flight who wasn't on board. "They said they couldn't let me go before cross-checking my identity, the reason I hadn't boarded the plane etc." The Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 crashed just minutes after an early-morning takeoff Sunday from Addis Ababa. People holding passports from more than 30 countries were on board including a number of UN workers. State-owned Ethiopian Airline had taken delivery of the Boeing 737-800 MAX plane on November 15. It was of the same type as a plane that crashed in October after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Greek man saved from Ethiopian Airlines crash by being two minutes late, calls it 'my lucky day'

Indonesia said Monday it was grounding its Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets after the Ethiopian Airlines crash and another deadly accident involving the same model near Jakarta in October.

"The Director General of Air Transport will take steps to carry out inspections and temporarily prohibit Boeing 737 Max 8 from flying in Indonesia," Director General of Air Transport Polana Pramesti told reporters in Jakarta.

The inspections on Indonesia's 11 Max 8 jets would start Tuesday and the plane would remain grounded until it was cleared by safety regulators, she added.

On Sunday, 157 passengers and crew members of a 737 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines were killed shortly after the Nairobi-bound flight took off from Addis Ababa.

The plane is the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board.

Ten of Indonesia's Max 8 jets are operated by Lion Air while the other is flown by national carrier Garuda.

The decision from Indonesia's transport ministry came as China also ordered its airlines to suspend commercial operations of the state-of-the-art model earlier Monday.

Noting the "similarities" between the two accidents, China's Civil Aviation Administration said domestic airlines had until Monday evening to ground all 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Indonesia said Monday it was grounding its Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets after the Ethiopian Airlines crash and another deadly accident involving the same model near Jakarta in October.

Indonesia said Monday it was grounding its Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets after the Ethiopian Airlines crash and another deadly accident involving the same model near Jakarta in October. "The Director General of Air Transport will take steps to carry out inspections and temporarily prohibit Boeing 737 Max 8 from flying in Indonesia," Director General of Air Transport Polana Pramesti told reporters in Jakarta. The inspections on Indonesia's 11 Max 8 jets would start Tuesday and the plane would remain grounded until it was cleared by safety regulators, she added. On Sunday, 157 passengers and crew members of a 737 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines were killed shortly after the Nairobi-bound flight took off from Addis Ababa. The plane is the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, just minutes after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Ten of Indonesia's Max 8 jets are operated by Lion Air while the other is flown by national carrier Garuda. The decision from Indonesia's transport ministry came as China also ordered its airlines to suspend commercial operations of the state-of-the-art model earlier Monday. Noting the "similarities" between the two accidents, China's Civil Aviation Administration said domestic airlines had until Monday evening to ground all 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Indonesia says grounding Boeing 737 MAX fleet after Ethiopia crash

Shares of Boeing Co slid 9 per cent in early trading on Monday as many airlines grounded the planemaker's best selling 737 MAX 8 passenger jet following the second deadly crash involving the plane.

A<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jet-airways-spicejet-to-be-questioned-on-boeing-b737-max-planes-after-ethiopian-crash-202539"> Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 MAX 8 </a>operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, killing all 157 on board. The same model flown by Lion Air crashed off the coast of Indonesia in October, killing all 189 on board.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China ordered Chinese airlines to ground all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes after the crash. The CAA said it would contact the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing regarding the resumption of operations once they are assured that measures have been taken to ensure safety.

Ethiopian Airlines said it had grounded its 737 MAX 8 fleet until further notice as an "extra safety precaution" even though it did not know the cause of Sunday's crash.

The 737 MAX 8 uses LEAP-1B engines made by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co and Safran SA. Shares in Safran also fell 1.6 percent on Monday.

Boeing said on Monday the investigation into the Ethiopian Airlines crash is in its early stages and there is no need to issue new guidance to operators of its 737 MAX 8 aircraft based on the information it has so far.

Shares of rival Airbus SE were up 0.5 pct.

Shares of Boeing Co slid 9 per cent in early trading on Monday as many airlines grounded the planemaker's best selling 737 MAX 8 passenger jet following the second deadly crash involving the plane.

Shares of Boeing Co slid 9 per cent in early trading on Monday as many airlines grounded the planemaker's best selling 737 MAX 8 passenger jet following the second deadly crash involving the plane. A Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, killing all 157 on board. The same model flown by Lion Air crashed off the coast of Indonesia in October, killing all 189 on board. The Civil Aviation Administration of China ordered Chinese airlines to ground all Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes after the crash. The CAA said it would contact the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing regarding the resumption of operations once they are assured that measures have been taken to ensure safety. Ethiopian Airlines said it had grounded its 737 MAX 8 fleet until further notice as an "extra safety precaution" even though it did not know the cause of Sunday's crash. The 737 MAX 8 uses LEAP-1B engines made by CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co and Safran SA. Shares in Safran also fell 1.6 percent on Monday. Boeing said on Monday the investigation into the Ethiopian Airlines crash is in its early stages and there is no need to issue new guidance to operators of its 737 MAX 8 aircraft based on the information it has so far. Shares of rival Airbus SE were up 0.5 pct.

Boeing shares fall after second deadly 737 MAX 8 crash

Boeing 737: Lion Air, Ethiopian Airlines and the Indian connection

The pilot of a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">that crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa</a> on Sunday, had alerted controllers "<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-boeing-was-similar-to-lion-air-plane-that-crashed-last-october-202336">he had difficulties</a>" and wanted to turn back the plane carrying 157 people, the head of Ethiopian Airlines said.

The pilot "was given clearance" to return to Addis, chief executive officer Tewolde GebreMariam told journalists in the Ethiopian capital when asked whether there had been a distress call.&nbsp;

The new Boeing 737 MAX: Two crashes in six months

The 737 MAX, a new plane from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, faces fresh scrutiny of its safety record after being involved in two crashes in six months.

The single-aisle airliner, which undertook its first commercial flight in May 2017, came under the spotlight in October last year in the wake of a fatal accident in Indonesia.

Lion Air Flight 610 vanished from radar shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29, crashing into waters off the north coast of Java Island and killing all 189 people onboard.

About 30 relatives of the crash victims have since filed lawsuits in the United States against Boeing, alleging that faults with the new airliner, including with its anti-stalling system, led to the deaths.

Questions were raised by experts and a pilots' union in the US about whether pilots had been properly trained and whether Boeing had fully shared data about changes made to the on-board control systems.

Boeing responded by saying that the 737 MAX was "as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies."&nbsp;

There is no indication that a technical problem was to blame for the crash of the Boeing 737-800 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines on Sunday which crashed minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa bound for Nairobi.&nbsp;

An investigation by aviation experts and analysis of the blackbox flight recorders is expected to shed light on the causes of the crash.

High demand 
Boeing is struggling to keep up with demand for the new aircraft, which offers far better fuel efficiency than earlier versions of the 737, the world's top-selling airliner.

Around 350 planes have been delivered to customers, with another 5,011 orders taken by Boeing, according to figures at the end of January.

Component suppliers and particularly the manufacturer of its engines -- CFM, a joint venture between US-based General Electric and France's Safran -- have struggled to keep up with demand.

Forced to announce delays in deliveries to clients, Boeing has sent some of its own employees to work alongside CFM workers with the aim of increasing production from its current rate of 52 planes a month to 57.

The 737 MAX family of planes includes versions with different seating capacities, with a maximum 230 for the MAX 9.

The price per plane ranges from 99.7-129 million dollars (89-117 million euros), though discounts are usually given to clients for large orders.

Its main competitor is the Airbus A320, which is also designed for short and medium-haul flights.

The pilot of a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 that crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, had alerted controllers "he had difficulties" and wanted to turn back the plane carrying 157 people, the head of Ethiopian Airlines said.

The pilot of a Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 that crashed six minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, had alerted controllers "he had difficulties" and wanted to turn back the plane carrying 157 people, the head of Ethiopian Airlines said. The pilot "was given clearance" to return to Addis, chief executive officer Tewolde GebreMariam told journalists in the Ethiopian capital when asked whether there had been a distress call. The new Boeing 737 MAX: Two crashes in six months The 737 MAX, a new plane from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing, faces fresh scrutiny of its safety record after being involved in two crashes in six months. The single-aisle airliner, which undertook its first commercial flight in May 2017, came under the spotlight in October last year in the wake of a fatal accident in Indonesia. Lion Air Flight 610 vanished from radar shortly after taking off from Jakarta on October 29, crashing into waters off the north coast of Java Island and killing all 189 people onboard. About 30 relatives of the crash victims have since filed lawsuits in the United States against Boeing, alleging that faults with the new airliner, including with its anti-stalling system, led to the deaths. Questions were raised by experts and a pilots' union in the US about whether pilots had been properly trained and whether Boeing had fully shared data about changes made to the on-board control systems. Boeing responded by saying that the 737 MAX was "as safe as any airplane that has ever flown the skies." There is no indication that a technical problem was to blame for the crash of the Boeing 737-800 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines on Sunday which crashed minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa bound for Nairobi. An investigation by aviation experts and analysis of the blackbox flight recorders is expected to shed light on the causes of the crash. High demand Boeing is struggling to keep up with demand for the new aircraft, which offers far better fuel efficiency than earlier versions of the 737, the world's top-selling airliner. Around 350 planes have been delivered to customers, with another 5,011 orders taken by Boeing, according to figures at the end of January. Component suppliers and particularly the manufacturer of its engines -- CFM, a joint venture between US-based General Electric and France's Safran -- have struggled to keep up with demand. Forced to announce delays in deliveries to clients, Boeing has sent some of its own employees to work alongside CFM workers with the aim of increasing production from its current rate of 52 planes a month to 57. The 737 MAX family of planes includes versions with different seating capacities, with a maximum 230 for the MAX 9. The price per plane ranges from 99.7-129 million dollars (89-117 million euros), though discounts are usually given to clients for large orders. Its main competitor is the Airbus A320, which is also designed for short and medium-haul flights.

Ethiopian Airlines crash: Pilot reported 'difficulties', had asked to return

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/2019-lok-sabha-elections-to-be-held-in-seven-phases-starting-april-11-202362">2019 Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases starting April 11</a>

The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are to be held in seven phases starting April 11. The announcement was made Sunday by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.&nbsp;

The polling dates over the seven phases are April 11, April 18, April 23, May 6, May 12, and May 19. All votes will be counted on May 23.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">Ethiopian Airlines plane crashes with 157 on board: 'No survivors,' says state media</a>

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet to Nairobi crashed early on Sunday with 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard, the airline said, and there were no survivors, according to the state broadcaster.

The flight left Bole airport in Addis Ababa at 8.38 am local time, before losing contact with the control tower just a few minutes later at 8.44 am.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/enough-is-enough-india-cannot-suffer-terrorism-till-eternity-pm-modi-202353">Enough is enough, India cannot suffer terrorism till eternity: PM Modi</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday sent across a strong message to terrorist forces targeting India, saying the country cannot keep suffering forever and that his government has taken some "strong decisions" against such elements.

"For many decades, the country and numerous families have suffered the wounds and pain given by terrorism, Naxalism and insurgency. What happened in Pulwama and Uri was heartbreaking.

"We cannot bear this pain till eternity. Enough is enough," the Prime Minister said while addressing CISF personnel.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-crash-boeing-was-similar-to-lion-air-plane-that-crashed-last-october-202336">Ethiopian Airlines crash: Boeing was similar to Lion Air plane that crashed last October</a>

The Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed Sunday was the same type of Boeing as the Lion Air plane that crashed last October in Indonesia killing all 189 people on board.&nbsp;

The Lion Air plane was a Boeing 737MAX. The Ethiopian Airlines plane was a Boeing 737-800MAX.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-general-elections-2019/jawans-should-count-dead-bodies-after-air-strike-or-return-safely-sushma-swaraj-202348">Jawans should count dead bodies after air strike or return safely?: Sushma Swaraj</a>

Speaking at a gathering of the BJP's women workers in Mumbai on Sunday, senior leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj signalled that the military action against Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama attack would be a poll issue for the ruling party.

"We should ask questions about whether our jawans should count the dead bodies (after dropping bombs on terror camps) or return safely after carrying out the air strike. BJP workers should ask counter-questions to those who raise doubts about the impact of our air strike," Swaraj said.

2019 Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases starting April 11 The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are to be held in seven phases starting April 11. The announcement was made Sunday by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora.

2019 Lok Sabha elections to be held in seven phases starting April 11 The 2019 Lok Sabha elections are to be held in seven phases starting April 11. The announcement was made Sunday by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora. The polling dates over the seven phases are April 11, April 18, April 23, May 6, May 12, and May 19. All votes will be counted on May 23. Ethiopian Airlines plane crashes with 157 on board: 'No survivors,' says state media An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet to Nairobi crashed early on Sunday with 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard, the airline said, and there were no survivors, according to the state broadcaster. The flight left Bole airport in Addis Ababa at 8.38 am local time, before losing contact with the control tower just a few minutes later at 8.44 am. Enough is enough, India cannot suffer terrorism till eternity: PM Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday sent across a strong message to terrorist forces targeting India, saying the country cannot keep suffering forever and that his government has taken some "strong decisions" against such elements. "For many decades, the country and numerous families have suffered the wounds and pain given by terrorism, Naxalism and insurgency. What happened in Pulwama and Uri was heartbreaking. "We cannot bear this pain till eternity. Enough is enough," the Prime Minister said while addressing CISF personnel. Ethiopian Airlines crash: Boeing was similar to Lion Air plane that crashed last October The Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed Sunday was the same type of Boeing as the Lion Air plane that crashed last October in Indonesia killing all 189 people on board. The Lion Air plane was a Boeing 737MAX. The Ethiopian Airlines plane was a Boeing 737-800MAX. Jawans should count dead bodies after air strike or return safely?: Sushma Swaraj Speaking at a gathering of the BJP's women workers in Mumbai on Sunday, senior leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj signalled that the military action against Pakistan after the February 14 Pulwama attack would be a poll issue for the ruling party. "We should ask questions about whether our jawans should count the dead bodies (after dropping bombs on terror camps) or return safely after carrying out the air strike. BJP workers should ask counter-questions to those who raise doubts about the impact of our air strike," Swaraj said.

News brief: Big stories of the day

'I thought it was thunder': Witness recounts Indonesia plane crash

Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday said no technical issue has been experienced by Boeing 737 MAX planes operating in the country, after an aircraft crashed in Indonesia, with 188 people on board. Earlier in the day, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/lion-airs-plane-was-almost-brand-new-was-recent-model-of-boeings-737-aircraft-174280">Indonesia’s Lion Air </a>crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from the Jakarta.

Jet Airways and SpiceJet are the Indian carriers that fly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/lion-air-plane-crash-body-parts-found-as-rescue-agency-says-likely-all-189-aboard-crashed-jet-dead-174197">Boeing 737 MAX</a>. A total of six such planes are in operation in the country. Since six Boeing 737 MAX planes are being operated by Jet Airways and SpiceJet, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in touch with Boeing and Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to know more details about the unfortunate accident, a senior DGCA official said.

According to the official, as on September 2018, Boeing has informed that 219 737 MAX planes have been delivered across the world. “As far as the operation of B 737 MAX with Indian operators is concerned, no technical issue has been experienced by the operators,” the official said. The Lion Air flight — JT 610 — was flying from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang when it lost contact with ground control few minutes after take-off and was last tracked crossing the sea, he added.

Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja died in the crash. “Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life… The embassy is in touch with the Crisis Center and coordinating for all assistance,” Indian Embassy in Jakarta tweeted.

Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday said no technical issue has been experienced by Boeing 737 MAX planes operating in the country, after an aircraft crashed in Indonesia, with 188 people on board.

Aviation regulator DGCA on Monday said no technical issue has been experienced by Boeing 737 MAX planes operating in the country, after an aircraft crashed in Indonesia, with 188 people on board. Earlier in the day, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by Indonesia’s Lion Air crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from the Jakarta. Jet Airways and SpiceJet are the Indian carriers that fly Boeing 737 MAX. A total of six such planes are in operation in the country. Since six Boeing 737 MAX planes are being operated by Jet Airways and SpiceJet, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in touch with Boeing and Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to know more details about the unfortunate accident, a senior DGCA official said. According to the official, as on September 2018, Boeing has informed that 219 737 MAX planes have been delivered across the world. “As far as the operation of B 737 MAX with Indian operators is concerned, no technical issue has been experienced by the operators,” the official said. The Lion Air flight — JT 610 — was flying from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang when it lost contact with ground control few minutes after take-off and was last tracked crossing the sea, he added. Indian pilot Bhavye Suneja died in the crash. “Our deepest condolences on the tragic loss of lives in the Lion Air plane crash, off the coast of Jakarta today. Most unfortunate that Indian Pilot Bhavye Suneja who was flying JT610 also lost his life… The embassy is in touch with the Crisis Center and coordinating for all assistance,” Indian Embassy in Jakarta tweeted.

Boeing 737 MAX planes in India have not experienced tech issues, says DGCA

Lion Air CEO believed ill-fated Lion Air plane was flight-ready

boeing-737-max-8

Boeing 737 Max 8, News on Boeing 737 Max 8, stories on Boeing 737 Max 8, articles on Boeing 737 Max 8, Boeing 737 Max 8 stories at Wion, Boeing 737 Max 8 news, Boeing 737 Max 8 latest news

boeing 737-max-8