<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-announces-first-new-north-korea-sanctions-since-failed-summit-204745">US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit</a>

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-theresa-may-welcomes-brexit-delay-204744">UK PM Theresa May welcomes Brexit delay, says Parliament now has clear choice</a>

European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-police-visited-mosque-shooter-before-granting-gun-licence-204754">New Zealand police visited mosque shooter before granting gun licence</a>

New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/almost-100-dead-as-overloaded-ferry-sinks-in-iraqs-tigris-river-204757">Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning</a>

Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-crashes-boeing-rolls-out-safety-feature-previously-sold-as-an-option-204750">After crashes, Boeing rolls out safety feature previously sold as an option</a>

Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month.

US announces first new North Korea sanctions since failed summit The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday on two Chinese shipping companies it says helped North Korea evade US and international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program, the first such steps since US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's summit collapsed last month. UK PM Theresa May welcomes Brexit delay, says Parliament now has clear choice European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted. New Zealand police visited mosque shooter before granting gun licence New Zealand police revealed Friday that they met with the accused Christchurch mosque shooter at his home in October 2017 before granting him the licence that let him purchase the weapons used in the rampage. Iraq: Almost 100 dead as overloaded ferry sinks in Tigris river, PM Mahdi declares national mourning Almost 100 people, mostly women and children, died Thursday as a ferry packed with families celebrating Kurdish New Year sank in a swollen river in the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul, in Iraq's worst accident in years. After crashes, Boeing rolls out safety feature previously sold as an option Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lion-air-crash-cockpit-voice-recorder-describes-pilots-frantic-search-for-fix-say-sources-204511">October's fatal crash in Indonesia</a>, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

The development comes as the manufacturer struggles to cope with the fallout from both the Indonesia crash and another in Ethiopia this month, which have cast a spotlight on the safety certification process and shaken confidence in a plane that is crucial to its future plans.

Known as a "disagree light," this safety feature will become standard and is among the modifications the company will present to US authorities and clients in the coming days, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Neither the Lion Air aircraft which crashed in Indonesia nor the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-airlines-plane-crashes-with-157-on-board-no-survivors-says-state-media-202350">Ethiopian Airlines jet</a>, had the feature, the source said. More than 300 people perished in the two cases.

American Airlines, which operates 24 737 MAX 8, had bought the option, anticipating potential malfunctions, a source close to the matter told AFP.

So too had Southwest Airlines, the plane's biggest customer, which also bought an additional "Primary Flight Display" option, according to a spokesperson.

Modifications are in the final stages but Boeing wants to be certain this meets the expectations of regulators and customers, the industry source said.

Neither Boeing nor the Federal Aviation Agency offered comment when contacted by AFP.

'Should be standard'&nbsp;

But an industry expert, Scott Hamilton from Leeham Company, said the system should have already been included.

"Instrument disagree warnings should be standard and they are important for pilots to know when instruments disagree with each other," he said.

"Boeing made this an option because it could, and make money by selling it. Simple as that."

The warning light will be activated if sensors transmit incorrect data to the plane's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which is intended to detect and correct stalls by reducing the aircraft's pitch.

Preliminary results in the investigation into October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia indicate an "angle of attack" sensor, which feeds data to the MCAS, had malfunctioned.

But despite malfunctioning, the sensor continued transmitting data to the plane's onboard electronics, including the MCAS.

That system takes control of the aircraft, pointing its nose downward, even if the pilot resists, so long as the system is not deactivated, something the Lion Air crew did not know.

Criminal investigation&nbsp;

US and Ethiopian authorities have said this month's crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 near Addis Ababa bore "similarities" to last year's Lion Air crash.

The Ethiopian Airlines crash led to the global grounding of 737 MAX aircraft.

A criminal investigation is currently underway in the United States, with authorities reportedly scrutinizing how the plane received safety certification from US aviation regulators.

Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican, called Wednesday for a hearing of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, for March 27, with three transportation officials, notably the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Cruz intends to hold a second hearing to question Boeing officials as well as pilots and others in the industry.

The investigations will likely zero in on the FAA's program of outsourcing its certification process to airplane manufacturers themselves.

The trend has accelerated due to budget cuts and the increasing volume of air travel, industry sources told AFP. In the case of the 737 MAX, Boeing expressed a case of urgency because of its medium-haul competition with the Airbus A320Neo that launched shortly before, the sources said.

Although it has suspended deliveries of the 737 MAX, Boeing has decided to continue production.

Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra.

Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft will be outfitted with a warning light for malfunctions in the anti-stall system suspected in October's fatal crash in Indonesia, an industry source told AFP Thursday, standardizing a feature previously sold as an optional extra. The development comes as the manufacturer struggles to cope with the fallout from both the Indonesia crash and another in Ethiopia this month, which have cast a spotlight on the safety certification process and shaken confidence in a plane that is crucial to its future plans. Known as a "disagree light," this safety feature will become standard and is among the modifications the company will present to US authorities and clients in the coming days, the source said on condition of anonymity. Neither the Lion Air aircraft which crashed in Indonesia nor the Ethiopian Airlines jet, had the feature, the source said. More than 300 people perished in the two cases. American Airlines, which operates 24 737 MAX 8, had bought the option, anticipating potential malfunctions, a source close to the matter told AFP. So too had Southwest Airlines, the plane's biggest customer, which also bought an additional "Primary Flight Display" option, according to a spokesperson. Modifications are in the final stages but Boeing wants to be certain this meets the expectations of regulators and customers, the industry source said. Neither Boeing nor the Federal Aviation Agency offered comment when contacted by AFP. 'Should be standard' But an industry expert, Scott Hamilton from Leeham Company, said the system should have already been included. "Instrument disagree warnings should be standard and they are important for pilots to know when instruments disagree with each other," he said. "Boeing made this an option because it could, and make money by selling it. Simple as that." The warning light will be activated if sensors transmit incorrect data to the plane's Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS), which is intended to detect and correct stalls by reducing the aircraft's pitch. Preliminary results in the investigation into October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia indicate an "angle of attack" sensor, which feeds data to the MCAS, had malfunctioned. But despite malfunctioning, the sensor continued transmitting data to the plane's onboard electronics, including the MCAS. That system takes control of the aircraft, pointing its nose downward, even if the pilot resists, so long as the system is not deactivated, something the Lion Air crew did not know. Criminal investigation US and Ethiopian authorities have said this month's crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 near Addis Ababa bore "similarities" to last year's Lion Air crash. The Ethiopian Airlines crash led to the global grounding of 737 MAX aircraft. A criminal investigation is currently underway in the United States, with authorities reportedly scrutinizing how the plane received safety certification from US aviation regulators. Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican, called Wednesday for a hearing of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation and Space, for March 27, with three transportation officials, notably the acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration. Cruz intends to hold a second hearing to question Boeing officials as well as pilots and others in the industry. The investigations will likely zero in on the FAA's program of outsourcing its certification process to airplane manufacturers themselves. The trend has accelerated due to budget cuts and the increasing volume of air travel, industry sources told AFP. In the case of the 737 MAX, Boeing expressed a case of urgency because of its medium-haul competition with the Airbus A320Neo that launched shortly before, the sources said. Although it has suspended deliveries of the 737 MAX, Boeing has decided to continue production.

After crashes, Boeing rolls out safety feature previously sold as an option

Did Shanahan use his office to favor Boeing?

Boeing Crisis: US acting defence secretary probed

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-calls-for-inquiry-into-faas-approval-boeing-737-max-8-204411">US&nbsp;Senate panel</a> plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lion-air-crash-cockpit-voice-recorder-describes-pilots-frantic-search-for-fix-say-sources-204511">aircraft crashed&nbsp;since October</a>, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers, officials said on Wednesday.

The hearing on federal oversight on commercial aviation by the Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation and space will include the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) acting administrator Dan Elwell, National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel, the committee confirmed.

Federal prosecutors are investigating the FAA`s certification of the Boeing 737 MAX that was grounded last week by regulators around the world.&nbsp;

The panel chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said that "in light of the recent tragedy in Ethiopia and the subsequent grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, this hearing will examine challenges to the state of commercial aviation safety, including any specific concerns highlighted by recent accidents."

A second hearing on aviation safety is planned "in the near future to hear from industry stakeholders that would include Boeing, other aviation manufacturers, airline pilots, and other stakeholders," the committee said.

Boeing Co, the world`s biggest planemaker, faces growing obstacles to returning its grounded 737 MAX fleet to the skies, while details emerged of an Indonesian crash last October with potential similarities to the Ethiopian disaster on March 10.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he would nominate Steve Erickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive to head the FAA. Elwell, the deputy administrator, has run the agency on an acting basis for 14 months.

A House panel also is expected to hold hearings in the aftermath of the fatal crashes. Boeing did not immediately comment Wednesday.

Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a flight to land safely on the Hudson River in New York in 2009, said in an op-ed Tuesday the FAA has a "too cozy" relationship with industry.

"In too many cases, FAA employees who rightly called for stricter compliance with safety standards and more rigorous design choices have been overruled by FAA management, often under corporate or political pressure," he wrote.

A US Senate panel plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed since October, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers, officials said on Wednesday.

A US Senate panel plans a hearing on March 27 on aviation safety after two fatal Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft crashed since October, and said it will also schedule a future hearing with Boeing and other manufacturers, officials said on Wednesday. The hearing on federal oversight on commercial aviation by the Senate Commerce subcommittee on aviation and space will include the US Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) acting administrator Dan Elwell, National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt and Transportation Department Inspector General Calvin Scovel, the committee confirmed. Federal prosecutors are investigating the FAA`s certification of the Boeing 737 MAX that was grounded last week by regulators around the world. The panel chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican, said that "in light of the recent tragedy in Ethiopia and the subsequent grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, this hearing will examine challenges to the state of commercial aviation safety, including any specific concerns highlighted by recent accidents." A second hearing on aviation safety is planned "in the near future to hear from industry stakeholders that would include Boeing, other aviation manufacturers, airline pilots, and other stakeholders," the committee said. Boeing Co, the world`s biggest planemaker, faces growing obstacles to returning its grounded 737 MAX fleet to the skies, while details emerged of an Indonesian crash last October with potential similarities to the Ethiopian disaster on March 10. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said he would nominate Steve Erickson, a former Delta Air Lines executive to head the FAA. Elwell, the deputy administrator, has run the agency on an acting basis for 14 months. A House panel also is expected to hold hearings in the aftermath of the fatal crashes. Boeing did not immediately comment Wednesday. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who piloted a flight to land safely on the Hudson River in New York in 2009, said in an op-ed Tuesday the FAA has a "too cozy" relationship with industry. "In too many cases, FAA employees who rightly called for stricter compliance with safety standards and more rigorous design choices have been overruled by FAA management, often under corporate or political pressure," he wrote.

US Senate panel to first grill FAA, then Boeing after fatal crashes

The United States Transport Department has directed its internal watchdog to conduct an inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ethiopian-airline-crash-boeing-finalising-737-max-software-update-203974">Boeing 737 MAX 8</a>.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boeings-737-max-aircraft-what-comes-next-203786">Boeing aircraft</a>, which has been involved in two major crashes in the last five months, has been grounded by scores of governments and airlines citing safety concerns following the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash which claimed the lives of all 157 people on board.

The audit has been ordered by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday (local time), who stated, "Safety is the top priority of the department, and all of us are saddened by the fatalities resulting from the recent accidents involving two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia."

She further wrote that the inquiry will "help inform the department's&nbsp;decision-making and the public's understanding and to assist the FAA in ensuring that its safety procedures are implemented effectively," according to The New York Times.

The FAA finds itself mired in controversy over its certification and approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet."We are currently developing the scope and objectives of our review and expect to formally announce and begin our audit work as soon as possible," the Transportation Department`s Office of Inspector General said.

Boeing has since agreed to cooperate with the review.&nbsp;

The United States Transport Department has directed its internal watchdog to conduct an inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8.

The United States Transport Department has directed its internal watchdog to conduct an inquiry into the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The Boeing aircraft, which has been involved in two major crashes in the last five months, has been grounded by scores of governments and airlines citing safety concerns following the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash which claimed the lives of all 157 people on board. The audit has been ordered by Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao on Tuesday (local time), who stated, "Safety is the top priority of the department, and all of us are saddened by the fatalities resulting from the recent accidents involving two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia and Ethiopia." She further wrote that the inquiry will "help inform the department's decision-making and the public's understanding and to assist the FAA in ensuring that its safety procedures are implemented effectively," according to The New York Times. The FAA finds itself mired in controversy over its certification and approval of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet."We are currently developing the scope and objectives of our review and expect to formally announce and begin our audit work as soon as possible," the Transportation Department`s Office of Inspector General said. Boeing has since agreed to cooperate with the review.

US calls for enquiry into FAA's approval of Boeing 737 MAX 8

Ethiopian Airline crash: Boeing 'finalising' 737 Max software update

Boeing is finalising a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-boxes-show-clear-similarities-with-indonesia-crash-ethiopia-says-203937">under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes</a>, the company's CEO has said.

"Boeing is finalising its development of a previously-announced software update and pilot training revision that will address the MCAS flight control law's behaviour in response to erroneous sensor inputs," the US-based aircraft manufacturer's president and CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said in a statement Sunday.

On Friday two anonymous industry sources told AFP the upgrade should be ready in about 10 days.

Muilenburg's announcement came after Ethiopia's transport minister earlier Sunday said black box data recovered from the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last week shows "clear similarities" with last year's Lion Air accident in Indonesia — which involved the same Max 8 type of aircraft.

Industry sources caution that the MCAS upgrade does not point to a cause of the Ethiopian crash, something Muilenburg's statement also indicated.

He said the MCAS modification is taking place "while investigators continue to work to establish definitive conclusions." The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is an automated safety feature on the 737 Max 8 designed to prevent the plane from entering into a stall, or losing lift.

Both the Lion Air jet, which crashed in October, killing 189 people, and the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft, which went down a week ago Sunday, leaving 157 people dead, were fitted with the system.

The two planes experienced similarly erratic steep climbs and descents and fluctuating airspeeds before crashing shortly after takeoff.

A malfunction of the system was implicated in the Lion Air accident.

The 737 Max 8 and 9 have been grounded worldwide since the Ethiopia crash. 
MCAS was introduced by Boeing on the 737 Max 8 because its heavier, more fuel-efficient engines changed the aerodynamic qualities of the workhorse aircraft and can cause the plane's nose to pitch up in certain conditions during manual flight.

Angle of attack sensors on the aircraft tell the MCAS to automatically point the nose of the plane down if it is in danger of going into a stall.

According to the flight data recorder, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the automated MCAS system repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down following takeoff.

The pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines plane reported similar difficulty before the aircraft plunged into the ground shortly after takeoff.

A preliminary report on the Lion Air accident blamed it in part on a faulty angle of attack sensor that triggered the MCAS system and automatically forced the plane's nose down.

Boeing came in for some criticism after the Indonesian crash for allegedly failing to adequately inform 737 pilots about the functioning of MCAS or provide training about the system.

After that crash, the company issued a bulletin to airlines operating the 737 Max 8 advising pilots how to override the MCAS system, and said it was working on software updates.&nbsp;

Boeing is finalising a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes, the company's CEO has said.

Boeing is finalising a software update and pilot training linked to the MCAS anti-stalling feature, under scrutiny after two 737 Max 8 crashes, the company's CEO has said. "Boeing is finalising its development of a previously-announced software update and pilot training revision that will address the MCAS flight control law's behaviour in response to erroneous sensor inputs," the US-based aircraft manufacturer's president and CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, said in a statement Sunday. On Friday two anonymous industry sources told AFP the upgrade should be ready in about 10 days. Muilenburg's announcement came after Ethiopia's transport minister earlier Sunday said black box data recovered from the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last week shows "clear similarities" with last year's Lion Air accident in Indonesia — which involved the same Max 8 type of aircraft. Industry sources caution that the MCAS upgrade does not point to a cause of the Ethiopian crash, something Muilenburg's statement also indicated. He said the MCAS modification is taking place "while investigators continue to work to establish definitive conclusions." The Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) is an automated safety feature on the 737 Max 8 designed to prevent the plane from entering into a stall, or losing lift. Both the Lion Air jet, which crashed in October, killing 189 people, and the Ethiopian Airlines aircraft, which went down a week ago Sunday, leaving 157 people dead, were fitted with the system. The two planes experienced similarly erratic steep climbs and descents and fluctuating airspeeds before crashing shortly after takeoff. A malfunction of the system was implicated in the Lion Air accident. The 737 Max 8 and 9 have been grounded worldwide since the Ethiopia crash. MCAS was introduced by Boeing on the 737 Max 8 because its heavier, more fuel-efficient engines changed the aerodynamic qualities of the workhorse aircraft and can cause the plane's nose to pitch up in certain conditions during manual flight. Angle of attack sensors on the aircraft tell the MCAS to automatically point the nose of the plane down if it is in danger of going into a stall. According to the flight data recorder, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the automated MCAS system repeatedly pushed the plane's nose down following takeoff. The pilots of the Ethiopian Airlines plane reported similar difficulty before the aircraft plunged into the ground shortly after takeoff. A preliminary report on the Lion Air accident blamed it in part on a faulty angle of attack sensor that triggered the MCAS system and automatically forced the plane's nose down. Boeing came in for some criticism after the Indonesian crash for allegedly failing to adequately inform 737 pilots about the functioning of MCAS or provide training about the system. After that crash, the company issued a bulletin to airlines operating the 737 Max 8 advising pilots how to override the MCAS system, and said it was working on software updates.

Boeing 'finalising' anti-stall software update after plane crashes

US aerospace giant <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/boeing-faces-a-major-crisis-203212">Boeing </a>said Thursday it was suspending deliveries of its top-selling 737 MAX as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/black-boxes-of-crashed-boeing-737-max-8-aircraft-sent-to-france-203253">French investigators took delivery of the black boxes</a> from the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 passengers and crew.

The MAX has been grounded worldwide following the disaster -- the second involving the model in five months -- and the fallout has left the company, regulators and airlines scrambling to respond.

"We are pausing the delivery of the 737 MAX until we come up with a solution," a Boeing spokesman said, adding that "we are going to continue the production, but we are assessing our capacities."

France's BEA air safety agency confirmed it has received the black box recorders from the plane, which was just four months old and crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday.&nbsp;

Starting Friday, BEA investigators will try to retrieve information from the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which were damaged in the disaster.

Thousands of miles (kilometers) away, distraught families were demanding answers as they visited the deep black crater where the plane smashed into a field outside the capital, disintegrating on impact.

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, sent the black boxes to France because it does not have the equipment to analyze the data. &nbsp;

The information that they contain helps explain 90 per cent of all crashes, according to aviation experts.

On Wednesday, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-joins-other-nations-in-grounding-737-max-jets-after-second-crash-203179">US authorities</a> said new evidence showed similarities between the Ethiopia crash and that of a Lion Air flight in Indonesia in October that claimed the lives of 189 people. &nbsp;

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said findings from the crash site near Addis Ababa and "newly refined satellite data" warranted "further investigation of the possibility of a shared cause for the two incidents."

Safety of 'paramount concern'

An FAA emergency order grounded 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft until further notice, effectively taking the aircraft out of the skies globally.

The move came after a growing number of airlines and countries had already decided not to fly the planes or ban them from their airspace until it was ascertained there are no safety issues.

US President Donald Trump told reporters the "safety of the American people and all peoples is our paramount concern."

FAA acting chief Daniel Elwell said the agency had been "working tirelessly" to find the cause of the accident but faced delays because of the damage to the flight data recorders.

The new information shows "the track of that airplane was close enough to the track of the Lion Air flight... to warrant the grounding of the airplanes so we could get more information from the black boxes and determine if there's a link between the two, and if there is, find a fix to that link," Elwell said on CNBC.

Boeing's shares have fallen 12 per cent in the days after the crash in Ethiopia, wiping out nearly $30 billion in value.&nbsp;

The MAX series is Boeing's fastest-selling model, but it is still relatively new with fewer than 500 in service.

There are 74 registered in the United States and 387 in use worldwide with 59 carriers, according to the FAA.

Pilots concerns

The accounts of the recent crashes were echoed in concerns registered by US pilots on how the MAX 8 behaves.

At least four American pilots complained following the Lion Air crash that the aircraft would suddenly pitch downward shortly after takeoff, according to documents reviewed by AFP on the Aviation Safety Reporting System, a voluntary incident database maintained by NASA.

In two anonymous reports on flights just after the Lion Air disaster, pilots disconnected the autopilot and corrected the plane's trajectory.

It was unclear if US transport authorities review the database or investigated the incidents. However, the FAA said this week it had ordered Boeing to update its flight software and training.

Questions about the Lion Air crash have honed in on an automated stall prevention system, the MCAS, designed to automatically point the plane's nose downwards if it is in danger of stalling.

According to the flight data recorder, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the MCAS repeatedly pushed the nose down following takeoff.

The Ethiopian Airlines pilots reported similar difficulties before their aircraft plunged to the ground as they tried to return to the airport.

Boeing was criticized after the Lion Air crash for allegedly failing to adequately inform 737 pilots about the functioning of the stall prevention system.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said the doomed flight's captain Yared Mulugeta Getachew, 29, was an experienced aviator with more than 8,000 flight hours.

US aerospace giant Boeing said Thursday it was suspending deliveries of its top-selling 737 MAX as French investigators took delivery of the black boxes from the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 passengers and crew.

US aerospace giant Boeing said Thursday it was suspending deliveries of its top-selling 737 MAX as French investigators took delivery of the black boxes from the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 passengers and crew. The MAX has been grounded worldwide following the disaster -- the second involving the model in five months -- and the fallout has left the company, regulators and airlines scrambling to respond. "We are pausing the delivery of the 737 MAX until we come up with a solution," a Boeing spokesman said, adding that "we are going to continue the production, but we are assessing our capacities." France's BEA air safety agency confirmed it has received the black box recorders from the plane, which was just four months old and crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday. Starting Friday, BEA investigators will try to retrieve information from the cockpit voice and flight data recorders, which were damaged in the disaster. Thousands of miles (kilometers) away, distraught families were demanding answers as they visited the deep black crater where the plane smashed into a field outside the capital, disintegrating on impact. Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest carrier, sent the black boxes to France because it does not have the equipment to analyze the data. The information that they contain helps explain 90 per cent of all crashes, according to aviation experts. On Wednesday, US authorities said new evidence showed similarities between the Ethiopia crash and that of a Lion Air flight in Indonesia in October that claimed the lives of 189 people. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said findings from the crash site near Addis Ababa and "newly refined satellite data" warranted "further investigation of the possibility of a shared cause for the two incidents." Safety of 'paramount concern' An FAA emergency order grounded 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft until further notice, effectively taking the aircraft out of the skies globally. The move came after a growing number of airlines and countries had already decided not to fly the planes or ban them from their airspace until it was ascertained there are no safety issues. US President Donald Trump told reporters the "safety of the American people and all peoples is our paramount concern." FAA acting chief Daniel Elwell said the agency had been "working tirelessly" to find the cause of the accident but faced delays because of the damage to the flight data recorders. The new information shows "the track of that airplane was close enough to the track of the Lion Air flight... to warrant the grounding of the airplanes so we could get more information from the black boxes and determine if there's a link between the two, and if there is, find a fix to that link," Elwell said on CNBC. Boeing's shares have fallen 12 per cent in the days after the crash in Ethiopia, wiping out nearly $30 billion in value. The MAX series is Boeing's fastest-selling model, but it is still relatively new with fewer than 500 in service. There are 74 registered in the United States and 387 in use worldwide with 59 carriers, according to the FAA. Pilots concerns The accounts of the recent crashes were echoed in concerns registered by US pilots on how the MAX 8 behaves. At least four American pilots complained following the Lion Air crash that the aircraft would suddenly pitch downward shortly after takeoff, according to documents reviewed by AFP on the Aviation Safety Reporting System, a voluntary incident database maintained by NASA. In two anonymous reports on flights just after the Lion Air disaster, pilots disconnected the autopilot and corrected the plane's trajectory. It was unclear if US transport authorities review the database or investigated the incidents. However, the FAA said this week it had ordered Boeing to update its flight software and training. Questions about the Lion Air crash have honed in on an automated stall prevention system, the MCAS, designed to automatically point the plane's nose downwards if it is in danger of stalling. According to the flight data recorder, the pilots of Lion Air Flight 610 struggled to control the aircraft as the MCAS repeatedly pushed the nose down following takeoff. The Ethiopian Airlines pilots reported similar difficulties before their aircraft plunged to the ground as they tried to return to the airport. Boeing was criticized after the Lion Air crash for allegedly failing to adequately inform 737 pilots about the functioning of the stall prevention system. Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam said the doomed flight's captain Yared Mulugeta Getachew, 29, was an experienced aviator with more than 8,000 flight hours.

We are pausing delivery, but will continue production of 737 Max: Boeing

Spot airfares for Wednesday and Thursday saw a steep rise on important routes across the country as the government grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft.

According to data provided by Yatra.com, the spot airfare on Wednesday was more than double on heavy traffic routes like Mumbai-Bengaluru, Bengaluru-Mumbai, Chennai-Delhi, Delhi-Kolkata and Mumbai- Chennai, when compared to the spot airfare that was there on March 13 last year.

The same was noticed for Thursday as well on routes like Mumbai-Delhi, Bengaluru-Delhi, Mumbai-Bengaluru, Bengaluru-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Mumbai-Hyderabad and Mumbai-Chennai when compared to the same period last year.

All Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft operated by Indian airline companies have been grounded and around 35 flights of SpiceJet would be cancelled on Thursday consequently, Civil Aviation Secretary P S Kharola said.

Meanwhile, Jet Airways Wednesday withdrew five more aircraft from service owing to non-payment of lease rentals, taking the total number of such non-operational aircraft to 37.

The Yatra.com data showed that ticket prices on Mumbai-Chennai routes have increased to Rs 20,329 for March 14. The spot fare on March 14 last year was Rs 5,671.

The Mumbai-Delhi ticket of March 14 has the spot fare of Rs 13,495, which is higher by 137 per cent when compared to the spot fare of March 14 last year.

"At least 50 planes are out of action or ground on the domestic front owing to multiple reasons...The airfares were at least 15 per cent higher this year compared to last year, and owing to the current situation, airfares are expected to rise further this season," said Sharat Dhall, Chief Operating Officer (B2C), Yatra.com.

As the Ethiopian Airlines' 737 Max 8 crashed near Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people onboard on Sunday, Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last night announced that the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft would be "immediately" grounded.

SpiceJet has been most affected by the grounding of the 737 Max 8 aircraft as it has 12 of them in its fleet.

The Aviation Secretary said March 14 will be a "challenging" day as "out of 520 odd flights that SpiceJet flies every day, about 30-35 flights will have to be cancelled.

Spot airfares for Wednesday and Thursday saw a steep rise on important routes across the country as the government grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. According to data provided by Yatra.

Spot airfares for Wednesday and Thursday saw a steep rise on important routes across the country as the government grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft. According to data provided by Yatra.com, the spot airfare on Wednesday was more than double on heavy traffic routes like Mumbai-Bengaluru, Bengaluru-Mumbai, Chennai-Delhi, Delhi-Kolkata and Mumbai- Chennai, when compared to the spot airfare that was there on March 13 last year. The same was noticed for Thursday as well on routes like Mumbai-Delhi, Bengaluru-Delhi, Mumbai-Bengaluru, Bengaluru-Mumbai, Delhi-Kolkata, Mumbai-Hyderabad and Mumbai-Chennai when compared to the same period last year. All Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft operated by Indian airline companies have been grounded and around 35 flights of SpiceJet would be cancelled on Thursday consequently, Civil Aviation Secretary P S Kharola said. Meanwhile, Jet Airways Wednesday withdrew five more aircraft from service owing to non-payment of lease rentals, taking the total number of such non-operational aircraft to 37. The Yatra.com data showed that ticket prices on Mumbai-Chennai routes have increased to Rs 20,329 for March 14. The spot fare on March 14 last year was Rs 5,671. The Mumbai-Delhi ticket of March 14 has the spot fare of Rs 13,495, which is higher by 137 per cent when compared to the spot fare of March 14 last year. "At least 50 planes are out of action or ground on the domestic front owing to multiple reasons...The airfares were at least 15 per cent higher this year compared to last year, and owing to the current situation, airfares are expected to rise further this season," said Sharat Dhall, Chief Operating Officer (B2C), Yatra.com. As the Ethiopian Airlines' 737 Max 8 crashed near Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people onboard on Sunday, Indian aviation watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) last night announced that the Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft would be "immediately" grounded. SpiceJet has been most affected by the grounding of the 737 Max 8 aircraft as it has 12 of them in its fleet. The Aviation Secretary said March 14 will be a "challenging" day as "out of 520 odd flights that SpiceJet flies every day, about 30-35 flights will have to be cancelled.

Spot airfares see a steep rise as government bans Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft

Boeing faces a major crisis

The United States on Wednesday joined Europe, China and other countries in grounding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/full-confidence-in-safety-of-737-max-plane-boeing-203079">Boeing Co's 737 MAX jets</a>, because of safety concerns after an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 people, the second disaster involving the 737 in less than five months.&nbsp;

The world's biggest planemaker is facing its most serious crisis in years, as the decades-old 737 programme, one of its most reliable sources of cash and profits, takes a severe blow to its prestige.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-not-to-suspend-boeing-737-max-plane-federal-aviation-administration-202979">US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) </a>cited new satellite data and evidence from the scene of Sunday`s crash near Addis Ababa for its decision to ground the planes.&nbsp;

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It was the second time the FAA has halted flights of a Boeing plane in six years. It had grounded the 787 Dreamliner in 2013 because of problems with smoking batteries.

Shares of the Seattle-based company ended up 0.5 per cent at $377.14, recovering from a more than 3 per cent fall in the afternoon when the FAA announcement was made.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-all-boeing-737-max-planes-now-grounded-government-warns-tomorrow-will-be-real-challenging-day-203110">All Boeing 737 Max planes now grounded in India</a>

Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York, said the grounding gives <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/a-look-at-how-boeing-could-lose-billions-of-dollars-post-the-ethiopian-airlines-crash-203172">Boeing</a> time to address any problems and not face another potential disaster.

US airlines that operate the 737 MAX, Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines, said they were working to re-book passengers.

Southwest is the world`s largest operator of the 737 MAX 8 with 34 jets, while American flies 24 MAX 8s and United 14 MAX 9s.&nbsp;

Shares of Southwest fell 0.4 per cent.&nbsp;

"The agency made this decision as a result of the data gathering process and new evidence collected at the site and analysed today," the FAA said in a statement, shortly after US President Donald Trump announced the planes would be grounded.&nbsp;

"This evidence, together with newly refined satellite data available to FAA this morning, led to this decision."

The grounding will remain in effect as the FAA investigates.

Boeing, which maintained that its planes were safe to fly, said in a statement that it supported the move to temporarily ground 737 MAX flights.

"Boeing has determined - out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft’s safety - to recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 371 737 MAX aircraft."

The still-unexplained crash followed another involving a Boeing 737 MAX in Indonesia five months ago that killed 189 people. Although there is no proof of any link, the twin disasters have spooked passengers.

France`s air accident investigation agency BEA will analyse black-box cockpit voice and data recorders from the crashed plane, a spokesman said.

The French announcement resolved uncertainty over the fate of the two recorders after Germany`s BFU said it had declined a request to handle them because it could not process the new type of recorder used on the 737 MAX jets, in service since 2017.

Travel website Kayak was making changes to let customers exclude specific aircraft types from searches, and booking sites were looking to reroute passengers.

The grounding was welcomed by air workers in the United States. John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union of America, which represents aviation workers and flight attendants, said the grounding of the fleet was right "both for air travellers and aviation workers."

Canada also grounded 737 MAX jets on Wednesday, saying satellite data suggested similarities to the previous crash involving the same plane model in October.

US-based aircraft-tracking firm Aireon provided the satellite data to the FAA, Transport Canada and several other authorities, company spokeswoman Jessie Hillenbrand said.&nbsp;

Aireon`s space-based system can monitor data from aircraft equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponders. The data is considered less detailed than that in black boxes, which look at systems running inside the plane.

Ethiopian Airlines spokesman Asrat Begashaw said it was still unclear what happened on Sunday, but its pilot had reported control issues as opposed to external factors such as birds.

"The pilot reported flight control problems and requested to turn back. In fact he was allowed to turn back," he said.&nbsp;

The chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Democrat Peter DeFazio, called for a probe into why the 737 MAX received certification to fly.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

"There must be a rigorous investigation into why the aircraft, which has critical safety systems that did not exist on prior models, was certified without requiring additional pilot training," he said.

Panama`s Copa Holdings said it would also suspend operations of its six Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, but Latin America has largely left it up to carriers to make their own decisions. As of Wednesday night, regulators in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the largest air travel markets in the region, had not forced the grounding of planes.

The United States on Wednesday joined Europe, China and other countries in grounding Boeing Co's 737 MAX jets, because of safety concerns after an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 people, the second disaster involving the 737 in less than five months.

The United States on Wednesday joined Europe, China and other countries in grounding Boeing Co's 737 MAX jets, because of safety concerns after an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 people, the second disaster involving the 737 in less than five months. The world's biggest planemaker is facing its most serious crisis in years, as the decades-old 737 programme, one of its most reliable sources of cash and profits, takes a severe blow to its prestige. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited new satellite data and evidence from the scene of Sunday`s crash near Addis Ababa for its decision to ground the planes. × It was the second time the FAA has halted flights of a Boeing plane in six years. It had grounded the 787 Dreamliner in 2013 because of problems with smoking batteries. Shares of the Seattle-based company ended up 0.5 per cent at $377.14, recovering from a more than 3 per cent fall in the afternoon when the FAA announcement was made. Also read: All Boeing 737 Max planes now grounded in India Tim Ghriskey, chief investment strategist at Inverness Counsel in New York, said the grounding gives Boeing time to address any problems and not face another potential disaster. US airlines that operate the 737 MAX, Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines, said they were working to re-book passengers. Southwest is the world`s largest operator of the 737 MAX 8 with 34 jets, while American flies 24 MAX 8s and United 14 MAX 9s. Shares of Southwest fell 0.4 per cent. "The agency made this decision as a result of the data gathering process and new evidence collected at the site and analysed today," the FAA said in a statement, shortly after US President Donald Trump announced the planes would be grounded. "This evidence, together with newly refined satellite data available to FAA this morning, led to this decision." The grounding will remain in effect as the FAA investigates. Boeing, which maintained that its planes were safe to fly, said in a statement that it supported the move to temporarily ground 737 MAX flights. "Boeing has determined - out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft’s safety - to recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 371 737 MAX aircraft." The still-unexplained crash followed another involving a Boeing 737 MAX in Indonesia five months ago that killed 189 people. Although there is no proof of any link, the twin disasters have spooked passengers. France`s air accident investigation agency BEA will analyse black-box cockpit voice and data recorders from the crashed plane, a spokesman said. The French announcement resolved uncertainty over the fate of the two recorders after Germany`s BFU said it had declined a request to handle them because it could not process the new type of recorder used on the 737 MAX jets, in service since 2017. Travel website Kayak was making changes to let customers exclude specific aircraft types from searches, and booking sites were looking to reroute passengers. The grounding was welcomed by air workers in the United States. John Samuelsen, international president of the Transport Workers Union of America, which represents aviation workers and flight attendants, said the grounding of the fleet was right "both for air travellers and aviation workers." Canada also grounded 737 MAX jets on Wednesday, saying satellite data suggested similarities to the previous crash involving the same plane model in October. US-based aircraft-tracking firm Aireon provided the satellite data to the FAA, Transport Canada and several other authorities, company spokeswoman Jessie Hillenbrand said. Aireon`s space-based system can monitor data from aircraft equipped with Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) transponders. The data is considered less detailed than that in black boxes, which look at systems running inside the plane. Ethiopian Airlines spokesman Asrat Begashaw said it was still unclear what happened on Sunday, but its pilot had reported control issues as opposed to external factors such as birds. "The pilot reported flight control problems and requested to turn back. In fact he was allowed to turn back," he said. The chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Democrat Peter DeFazio, called for a probe into why the 737 MAX received certification to fly. "There must be a rigorous investigation into why the aircraft, which has critical safety systems that did not exist on prior models, was certified without requiring additional pilot training," he said. Panama`s Copa Holdings said it would also suspend operations of its six Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft, but Latin America has largely left it up to carriers to make their own decisions. As of Wednesday night, regulators in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, the largest air travel markets in the region, had not forced the grounding of planes.

US joins other nations in grounding 737 MAX jets after Ethiopian Airlines plane

The global grounding of Boeing's most popular model is likely to generate a host of business challenges for the aerospace giant, which is already wrestling with the reputational fallout from the crash of one of its planes and a swift reaction outside the United States, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Thursday.&nbsp;

Boeing's race with rival Airbus SE to meet surging international demand for air travel helped make Boeing the top US exporter by sales and the most valuable component of the Dow Jones Industrial Index.&nbsp;

Boeing has more than 100,000 employees around the world and a supply chain that spans the planet.&nbsp;

That corporate engine runs on cash generated by orders for its most popular plane, the 737 MAX. Boeing has amassed orders for more than 5,000 of the jetliners.&nbsp;

It isn't clear how two crashes in the past five months - among 370-plus jetliners that have entered service to date - will affect that order book and Boeing's strong recent share performance.&nbsp;

But as airlines and air-safety officials around the world ground the bulk of that fleet and ask Boeing to address the plane's potential safety problems, Boeing and Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg face the task of keeping a major engine of the US economy on track.&nbsp;

Muilenburg spent much of Wednesday at Boeing's main jetliner production facilities in the Seattle area, according to a person familiar with the matter.&nbsp;

He also walked the floor at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Wash., talking with employees, this person said.&nbsp;

It wasn't immediately clear if the grounding would have implications for Boeing's plan to boost 737 output, the person said. The FAA's order appeared to leave room for finished 737s to fly from the small airport by its Renton factory before eventual delivery.&nbsp;

That would ease potential bottlenecks for unfinished planes at the airport, which has little space for parking the jets.&nbsp;

But the global groundings posed at least a short-term challenge: the restrictions would likely hinder Boeing's ability to deliver planes to customers around the world.&nbsp;

Muilenburg and other executives spent a big part of the day on calls with senior transportation officials and regulators, the person said. Executives were also on calls with suppliers and customers as pressure for the grounding built.&nbsp;

Fixing the roughly 370 jetliners that have been delivered over the past two years could be costly. Software upgrades that Boeing is developing for the 737 MAX could cost $1 million to $2 million a jet, analysts estimated.&nbsp;

Boeing could also see some $2 billion of cash flow pushed into later quarters as airlines hold back on final payments for jetliners they have ordered, said Cai von Rumohr at Cowen &amp; Co.&nbsp;

Boeing has almost $7 billion in cash on hand. But the crisis could weaken Boeing's hand in future sales contests, and reduce its leverage to push suppliers for better terms or faster production schedules.&nbsp;

"This is his big test as CEO," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, referring to Muilenburg. "There's a lot at stake, and a lot of public and political pressure."&nbsp;

Muilenburg said Boeing supported the grounding as a "proactive step out of an abundance of caution." He noted the company was assisting investigators and that safety was a core value.&nbsp;

"There is no greater priority for our company and our industry," he said in a statement shortly after President Trump announced the FAA order.&nbsp;

Deposits from 737 MAX orders helped lift Boeing's revenue above $100 billion for the first time last year. That drove the Chicago-based company's market cap over $250 billion this month.&nbsp;

That was before a 737 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff on Sunday. Another nearly new model of the plane operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed under what safety experts view as similar circumstances less than five months ago.&nbsp;

Airlines and air-safety authorities around the world have since grounded the jets. Boeing has shed almost $40 billion of market value from its peak last month. The company's shares rose 0.5 per cent on Wednesday to $377.14.&nbsp;

Airlines in the US and elsewhere have few options for switching away from the workhorse 737. Airbus already has a five-year backlog of orders for its A320neo, the 737 MAX's main competitor.&nbsp;

Shares in American Airlines Group Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and United Continental Holdings Inc., the three US carriers that operate 737 MAX jets, all closed higher on Wednesday after early dips, after the FAA grounded the plane.&nbsp;

The MAX represents 2 per cent of US flight capacity, according to a Dow Jones report made available to EFE.

Carriers would redirect other planes to accommodate fliers on their most profitable routes, analysts said.&nbsp;

Outside the US, Norwegian Air Shuttle A/S said it expects Boeing to compensate it for the time its 737 MAX jets remain out of service. "It is quite obvious that we will not take the cost related to the new aircraft that we had to park," Norwegian Chief Executive Bjørn Kjos said.&nbsp;

Analysts said the costs could extend well beyond those related to the grounding of the current 737 MAX fleet. "Reputational damage could also be substantial, although Boeing has weathered previous crash episodes," said Craig Fraser at rating agency Fitch.&nbsp;

Muilenburg will have to rebuild trust in the company's cash cow before deciding whether to push forward with the launch of an all-new twin-aisle jetliner, according to industry executives.&nbsp;

Boeing is expected to start marketing the plane this year and decide in 2020 whether to go ahead with production.&nbsp;

Analysts said the immediate financial impact of temporarily grounding the global 737 MAX fleet could be limited.&nbsp;

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner fleet was grounded for three months in 2013 following a series of onboard battery fires.&nbsp;

Boeing's shares emerged from that three-month period roughly unchanged, though Boeing was left with accumulated losses of around $30 billion. New 787s only recently turned a profit.&nbsp;

Boeing delivered a record 806 jetliners last year and secured many Pentagon contracts, its first competitive defence wins since 2011.&nbsp;

New labour contracts, reductions to pension obligations and more efficient production methods have helped more than triple Boeing's stock price since Muilenburg took over as CEO in 2015.&nbsp;

Boeing is boosting monthly production of the MAX by five jets to 57 this year, and Muilenburg has said buoyant global growth in passenger and freight air traffic could underpin further increases.&nbsp;

Muilenburg, a famously energetic executive who cycles more than 100 miles a week on his Boeing-blue bike, previously ran Boeing's defence arm, which is building drones and trainer jets for the Pentagon.&nbsp;

Fresh problems on a new aerial refuelling tanker and a space taxi - both late and over budget - have tested relations with the Defense Department and NASA even as Boeing vies for what would be its largest-ever contract win.&nbsp;

Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman Corp. to refresh America's land-based nuclear missiles. The Pentagon is due to select a main supplier for the $100 billion program by early next year.&nbsp;

Now Boeing will have to focus first on fixing the 737 MAX.&nbsp;

Inside a Renton, Wash. factory where Boeing makes 737s, the grounding of the MAX fleet was weighing heavily on morale.&nbsp;

"It's very sombre in the workplace," said one person familiar with the factory's operations. "They take great pride in their work so this kind of thing hits hard."&nbsp;

The global grounding of Boeing's most popular model is likely to generate a host of business challenges for the aerospace giant, which is already wrestling with the reputational fallout from the crash of one of its planes and a swift reaction outside the United States, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Thursday.

The global grounding of Boeing's most popular model is likely to generate a host of business challenges for the aerospace giant, which is already wrestling with the reputational fallout from the crash of one of its planes and a swift reaction outside the United States, according to a Dow Jones Newswires report made available to EFE on Thursday. Boeing's race with rival Airbus SE to meet surging international demand for air travel helped make Boeing the top US exporter by sales and the most valuable component of the Dow Jones Industrial Index. Boeing has more than 100,000 employees around the world and a supply chain that spans the planet. That corporate engine runs on cash generated by orders for its most popular plane, the 737 MAX. Boeing has amassed orders for more than 5,000 of the jetliners. It isn't clear how two crashes in the past five months - among 370-plus jetliners that have entered service to date - will affect that order book and Boeing's strong recent share performance. But as airlines and air-safety officials around the world ground the bulk of that fleet and ask Boeing to address the plane's potential safety problems, Boeing and Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg face the task of keeping a major engine of the US economy on track. Muilenburg spent much of Wednesday at Boeing's main jetliner production facilities in the Seattle area, according to a person familiar with the matter. He also walked the floor at Boeing's 737 factory in Renton, Wash., talking with employees, this person said. It wasn't immediately clear if the grounding would have implications for Boeing's plan to boost 737 output, the person said. The FAA's order appeared to leave room for finished 737s to fly from the small airport by its Renton factory before eventual delivery. That would ease potential bottlenecks for unfinished planes at the airport, which has little space for parking the jets. But the global groundings posed at least a short-term challenge: the restrictions would likely hinder Boeing's ability to deliver planes to customers around the world. Muilenburg and other executives spent a big part of the day on calls with senior transportation officials and regulators, the person said. Executives were also on calls with suppliers and customers as pressure for the grounding built. Fixing the roughly 370 jetliners that have been delivered over the past two years could be costly. Software upgrades that Boeing is developing for the 737 MAX could cost $1 million to $2 million a jet, analysts estimated. Boeing could also see some $2 billion of cash flow pushed into later quarters as airlines hold back on final payments for jetliners they have ordered, said Cai von Rumohr at Cowen & Co. Boeing has almost $7 billion in cash on hand. But the crisis could weaken Boeing's hand in future sales contests, and reduce its leverage to push suppliers for better terms or faster production schedules. "This is his big test as CEO," said Richard Aboulafia, aerospace analyst at the Teal Group, referring to Muilenburg. "There's a lot at stake, and a lot of public and political pressure." Muilenburg said Boeing supported the grounding as a "proactive step out of an abundance of caution." He noted the company was assisting investigators and that safety was a core value. "There is no greater priority for our company and our industry," he said in a statement shortly after President Trump announced the FAA order. Deposits from 737 MAX orders helped lift Boeing's revenue above $100 billion for the first time last year. That drove the Chicago-based company's market cap over $250 billion this month. That was before a 737 MAX operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff on Sunday. Another nearly new model of the plane operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed under what safety experts view as similar circumstances less than five months ago. Airlines and air-safety authorities around the world have since grounded the jets. Boeing has shed almost $40 billion of market value from its peak last month. The company's shares rose 0.5 per cent on Wednesday to $377.14. Airlines in the US and elsewhere have few options for switching away from the workhorse 737. Airbus already has a five-year backlog of orders for its A320neo, the 737 MAX's main competitor. Shares in American Airlines Group Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and United Continental Holdings Inc., the three US carriers that operate 737 MAX jets, all closed higher on Wednesday after early dips, after the FAA grounded the plane. The MAX represents 2 per cent of US flight capacity, according to a Dow Jones report made available to EFE. Carriers would redirect other planes to accommodate fliers on their most profitable routes, analysts said. Outside the US, Norwegian Air Shuttle A/S said it expects Boeing to compensate it for the time its 737 MAX jets remain out of service. "It is quite obvious that we will not take the cost related to the new aircraft that we had to park," Norwegian Chief Executive Bjørn Kjos said. Analysts said the costs could extend well beyond those related to the grounding of the current 737 MAX fleet. "Reputational damage could also be substantial, although Boeing has weathered previous crash episodes," said Craig Fraser at rating agency Fitch. Muilenburg will have to rebuild trust in the company's cash cow before deciding whether to push forward with the launch of an all-new twin-aisle jetliner, according to industry executives. Boeing is expected to start marketing the plane this year and decide in 2020 whether to go ahead with production. Analysts said the immediate financial impact of temporarily grounding the global 737 MAX fleet could be limited. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner fleet was grounded for three months in 2013 following a series of onboard battery fires. Boeing's shares emerged from that three-month period roughly unchanged, though Boeing was left with accumulated losses of around $30 billion. New 787s only recently turned a profit. Boeing delivered a record 806 jetliners last year and secured many Pentagon contracts, its first competitive defence wins since 2011. New labour contracts, reductions to pension obligations and more efficient production methods have helped more than triple Boeing's stock price since Muilenburg took over as CEO in 2015. Boeing is boosting monthly production of the MAX by five jets to 57 this year, and Muilenburg has said buoyant global growth in passenger and freight air traffic could underpin further increases. Muilenburg, a famously energetic executive who cycles more than 100 miles a week on his Boeing-blue bike, previously ran Boeing's defence arm, which is building drones and trainer jets for the Pentagon. Fresh problems on a new aerial refuelling tanker and a space taxi - both late and over budget - have tested relations with the Defense Department and NASA even as Boeing vies for what would be its largest-ever contract win. Boeing is competing against Northrop Grumman Corp. to refresh America's land-based nuclear missiles. The Pentagon is due to select a main supplier for the $100 billion program by early next year. Now Boeing will have to focus first on fixing the 737 MAX. Inside a Renton, Wash. factory where Boeing makes 737s, the grounding of the MAX fleet was weighing heavily on morale. "It's very sombre in the workplace," said one person familiar with the factory's operations. "They take great pride in their work so this kind of thing hits hard."

Boeing tries to limit fallout of 737 MAX plane crashes

Ethiopian Airlines said today that it had flown the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-joins-other-nations-in-grounding-737-max-jets-after-second-crash-203179">Flight Data Recorder (FDR)</a> and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the crashed Boeing 737 MAX 8 to Paris for investigation.

The Boeing flight crashed with 157 people on board as several countries including the US, India, Singapore and other countries grounded the 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

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An Ethiopian delegation led by Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) has flown the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to Paris, France for investigation.
— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) <a href="https://twitter.com/flyethiopian/status/1106068808454860800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Ethiopia had said earlier it would send the boxes from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to Europe because it does not have the equipment to read the data, but did not specify a country.

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US authorities said new evidence showed similarities between Sunday's deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 and a fatal Lion Air crash in Indonesia last October.

American Airlines said it had 24 aircraft affected by the US ban, while Southwest Airlines said it was still confirming the move.

The MAX series is Boeing's fastest-selling model.

There are 74 of the planes registered in the United States, and 387 in use worldwide with 59 carriers, according to the FAA.

On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board.

In October, a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people shortly after takeoff from Jakarta.

Turkish Airlines, one of the largest carriers in the world, said it was suspending its 12 MAX aircraft from Wednesday, until "uncertainty" was clarified.

Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle, South Korea's Eastar Jet and South Africa's Comair also said they would halt flights.

&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Ethiopian Airlines said today that it had flown the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the crashed Boeing 737 MAX 8 to Paris for investigation.

Ethiopian Airlines said today that it had flown the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) of the crashed Boeing 737 MAX 8 to Paris for investigation. The Boeing flight crashed with 157 people on board as several countries including the US, India, Singapore and other countries grounded the 737 MAX 8 aircraft. An Ethiopian delegation led by Accident Investigation Bureau(AIB) has flown the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to Paris, France for investigation. — Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 14, 2019 × Ethiopia had said earlier it would send the boxes from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to Europe because it does not have the equipment to read the data, but did not specify a country. US authorities said new evidence showed similarities between Sunday's deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 and a fatal Lion Air crash in Indonesia last October. American Airlines said it had 24 aircraft affected by the US ban, while Southwest Airlines said it was still confirming the move. The MAX series is Boeing's fastest-selling model. There are 74 of the planes registered in the United States, and 387 in use worldwide with 59 carriers, according to the FAA. On Sunday, a new Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, killing all 157 people on board. In October, a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people shortly after takeoff from Jakarta. Turkish Airlines, one of the largest carriers in the world, said it was suspending its 12 MAX aircraft from Wednesday, until "uncertainty" was clarified. Low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle, South Korea's Eastar Jet and South Africa's Comair also said they would halt flights.

Black boxes of crashed Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft sent to France

FAA Picks Boeing over Passenger Safety

A Look At How Boeing Could Lose Billions Of Dollars Post The Ethiopian Airlines Crash

The US aviation regulator said on Tuesday it would not ground <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/after-second-crash-in-5-months-india-bans-boeings-737-max-8-aircraft-202965">Boeing Co 737 MAX planes</a> after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of countries around the world that have <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nations-airlines-grounding-boeings-737-max-202951">suspended the aircraft's operations</a>.

The Federal Aviation Administration's acting administrator, Dan Elwell, said a review by the body "shows no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft."

The European Union's aviation safety regulator on Tuesday suspended all flights in the bloc by the 737 MAX and a US senator who chairs a panel overseeing aviation suggested the United States take similar action following <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopian-plane-crash-investigators-recover-black-boxes-from-boeing-737-max-8-202673">Sunday's fatal crash</a>, the second since October involving that type of plane.

But Elwell said no foreign civil aviation authorities had provided data that would warrant action. If any safety issues are identified during an ongoing urgent review of the Ethiopian Airlines crash, the FAA will "take immediate and appropriate action," he said.

Britain, Germany and France joined a wave of suspensions of the aircraft following the crash, followed by a similar decision by India, piling pressure on the United States to follow suit.

Boeing, the world's biggest planemaker, which has seen billions of dollars wiped off its market value since the crash, said it understood the countries' actions but retained "full confidence" in the 737 MAX and had safety as its priority.

The three US airlines using the 737 MAX - Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines - stood by the aircraft, although many potential passengers took to social media to express concerns, asking if they could change flights or cancel.

United Airlines' union pilots said that they had found no mechanical deficiencies in the plane in more than 23,000 flying hours.

The cause of Sunday's crash, which followed another disaster with a 737 MAX five months ago in Indonesia that killed 189 people, remains unknown. On Monday, the FAA released details of a series of design changes and training requirements mandated from Boeing on the MAX fleet after the Indonesia crash.

There is no evidence yet whether the two crashes are linked. Plane experts say it is too early to speculate on the reason for the latest crash. Most are caused by a unique chain of human and technical factors.

EUROPEAN SUSPENSION

In an unusual move, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it was suspending all flights in the bloc of Boeing's 737 MAX 8 and 9 jets.

"Based on all available information, EASA considers that further actions may be necessary to ensure the continued airworthiness of the two affected models," it said in a statement.

It shied away, however, from the even rarer step of pulling the safety certification for the plane itself, focusing instead on the softer process of restricting its use by airlines. The move leaves some leeway for the US FAA to decide its own approach.

Flight ET 302 came down in a field soon after takeoff from Addis Ababa, creating a fireball in a crater. It may take weeks or months to identify all the victims, who include a prize-winning author, a soccer official and a team of humanitarian workers.

Boeing shares fell 6.1 per cent on Tuesday, bringing losses to 11.15 per cent since the crash, the steepest two-day loss for the stock since July 2009. The drop has lopped $26.65 billion off Boeing's market value.

Of the top 10 countries by air passenger travel, all but the United States and Japan have halted flights of the 737 MAX. China, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and others have temporarily suspended the plane.

Canada has no plans to ground 737 MAX aircraft but is ready to act immediately to suspend flights if new information emerges indicating there is a problem, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said.

US Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican who chairs the Senate subcommittee on aviation and space, said on Tuesday it would be "prudent" for the United States "to temporarily ground 737 Max aircraft until the FAA confirms the safety of these aircraft and their passengers."

Cruz said he intended to convene a hearing to investigate the crashes.

US President Donald Trump also fretted over modern airplane design.

"Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT," Trump tweeted, lamenting that product developers always sought to go an unnecessary step further when "old and simpler" was superior.

"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!" he added.

He did not refer to Boeing or recent accidents, but his comments echoed an automation debate that partially lies at the centre of a probe into October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia. Investigators are examining the role of a software system designed to push the plane down, alongside airline training and repair standards.

Boeing says it plans to update the software in coming weeks.

Trump spoke to Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg on Tuesday and received assurances that the aircraft was safe, two people briefed on the call said.

VICTIMS FROM 30 NATIONS

Given problems of identification at the charred disaster site, Ethiopian Airlines said it would take at least five days to start handing remains to families.

The victims came from more than 30 nations, and included nearly two-dozen UN staff.

"We are Muslim and have to bury our deceased immediately," Noordin Mohamed, a 27-year-old Kenyan businessman whose brother and mother died, told Reuters.

"Losing a brother and mother in the same day and not having their bodies to bury is very painful," he said in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where the plane had been due.

If the black box recordings found at the Ethiopian crash site are undamaged, the cause of the crash could be identified quickly, although it typically takes a year for a full probe.

The new variant of the 737, the world's most-sold modern passenger aircraft, is viewed as the likely workhorse for global airlines for decades and 4,661 more are on order.

Over 40 per cent of the MAX fleet has been grounded, Flightglobal said, although many airlines still use older jets.

The US aviation regulator said on Tuesday it would not ground Boeing Co 737 MAX planes after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of countries around the world that have suspended the aircraft's operations.

The US aviation regulator said on Tuesday it would not ground Boeing Co 737 MAX planes after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of countries around the world that have suspended the aircraft's operations. The Federal Aviation Administration's acting administrator, Dan Elwell, said a review by the body "shows no systemic performance issues and provides no basis to order grounding the aircraft." The European Union's aviation safety regulator on Tuesday suspended all flights in the bloc by the 737 MAX and a US senator who chairs a panel overseeing aviation suggested the United States take similar action following Sunday's fatal crash, the second since October involving that type of plane. But Elwell said no foreign civil aviation authorities had provided data that would warrant action. If any safety issues are identified during an ongoing urgent review of the Ethiopian Airlines crash, the FAA will "take immediate and appropriate action," he said. Britain, Germany and France joined a wave of suspensions of the aircraft following the crash, followed by a similar decision by India, piling pressure on the United States to follow suit. Boeing, the world's biggest planemaker, which has seen billions of dollars wiped off its market value since the crash, said it understood the countries' actions but retained "full confidence" in the 737 MAX and had safety as its priority. The three US airlines using the 737 MAX - Southwest Airlines Co, American Airlines Group Inc and United Airlines - stood by the aircraft, although many potential passengers took to social media to express concerns, asking if they could change flights or cancel. United Airlines' union pilots said that they had found no mechanical deficiencies in the plane in more than 23,000 flying hours. The cause of Sunday's crash, which followed another disaster with a 737 MAX five months ago in Indonesia that killed 189 people, remains unknown. On Monday, the FAA released details of a series of design changes and training requirements mandated from Boeing on the MAX fleet after the Indonesia crash. There is no evidence yet whether the two crashes are linked. Plane experts say it is too early to speculate on the reason for the latest crash. Most are caused by a unique chain of human and technical factors. EUROPEAN SUSPENSION In an unusual move, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it was suspending all flights in the bloc of Boeing's 737 MAX 8 and 9 jets. "Based on all available information, EASA considers that further actions may be necessary to ensure the continued airworthiness of the two affected models," it said in a statement. It shied away, however, from the even rarer step of pulling the safety certification for the plane itself, focusing instead on the softer process of restricting its use by airlines. The move leaves some leeway for the US FAA to decide its own approach. Flight ET 302 came down in a field soon after takeoff from Addis Ababa, creating a fireball in a crater. It may take weeks or months to identify all the victims, who include a prize-winning author, a soccer official and a team of humanitarian workers. Boeing shares fell 6.1 per cent on Tuesday, bringing losses to 11.15 per cent since the crash, the steepest two-day loss for the stock since July 2009. The drop has lopped $26.65 billion off Boeing's market value. Of the top 10 countries by air passenger travel, all but the United States and Japan have halted flights of the 737 MAX. China, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and others have temporarily suspended the plane. Canada has no plans to ground 737 MAX aircraft but is ready to act immediately to suspend flights if new information emerges indicating there is a problem, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said. US Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican who chairs the Senate subcommittee on aviation and space, said on Tuesday it would be "prudent" for the United States "to temporarily ground 737 Max aircraft until the FAA confirms the safety of these aircraft and their passengers." Cruz said he intended to convene a hearing to investigate the crashes. US President Donald Trump also fretted over modern airplane design. "Pilots are no longer needed, but rather computer scientists from MIT," Trump tweeted, lamenting that product developers always sought to go an unnecessary step further when "old and simpler" was superior. "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!" he added. He did not refer to Boeing or recent accidents, but his comments echoed an automation debate that partially lies at the centre of a probe into October's Lion Air crash in Indonesia. Investigators are examining the role of a software system designed to push the plane down, alongside airline training and repair standards. Boeing says it plans to update the software in coming weeks. Trump spoke to Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg on Tuesday and received assurances that the aircraft was safe, two people briefed on the call said. VICTIMS FROM 30 NATIONS Given problems of identification at the charred disaster site, Ethiopian Airlines said it would take at least five days to start handing remains to families. The victims came from more than 30 nations, and included nearly two-dozen UN staff. "We are Muslim and have to bury our deceased immediately," Noordin Mohamed, a 27-year-old Kenyan businessman whose brother and mother died, told Reuters. "Losing a brother and mother in the same day and not having their bodies to bury is very painful," he said in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, where the plane had been due. If the black box recordings found at the Ethiopian crash site are undamaged, the cause of the crash could be identified quickly, although it typically takes a year for a full probe. The new variant of the 737, the world's most-sold modern passenger aircraft, is viewed as the likely workhorse for global airlines for decades and 4,661 more are on order. Over 40 per cent of the MAX fleet has been grounded, Flightglobal said, although many airlines still use older jets.

US not to suspend Boeing 737 MAX plane: Federal Aviation Administration

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

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-failure-to-designate-masood-azhar-would-run-counter-to-goal-of-regional-stability-us-202991">China's failure to designate Masood Azhar would run counter to </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-failure-to-designate-masood-azhar-would-run-counter-to-goal-of-regional-stability-us-202991">goal</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-failure-to-designate-masood-azhar-would-run-counter-to-goal-of-regional-stability-us-202991"> of regional stability: US</a>

China has been reluctant in declaring Azhar as an international terrorist and has blocked his listing at United Nation's Security Council's 1267 committee.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-rejects-prime-minister-theresa-mays-brexit-deal-by-149-votes-202966">Britain in Brexit chaos: Parliament rejects Theresa May's European Union deal again</a>

Lawmakers voted against May's amended Brexit deal by 391 to 242 as her last-minute talks with EU chiefs on Monday to assuage her critics' concerns ultimately proved fruitless.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-test-fires-smart-weapon-for-pafs-jf-17-thunder-fighter-jet-202980">Pakistan test-fires 'smart weapon' for PAF's JF-17 Thunder fighter jet</a>

Amid tensions with India, Pakistan on Tuesday announced that it has successfully test-fired an indigenously developed extended range&nbsp;"smart weapon" from JF-17 Thunder fighter&nbsp;jet to provide it a very potent day and night capability to engage variety of targets with pinpoint accuracy.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-not-to-suspend-boeing-737-max-plane-federal-aviation-administration-202979">US not to suspend Boeing 737 MAX plane: Federal Aviation Administration</a>

The US aviation regulator said on Tuesday it would not ground&nbsp;Boeing Co 737 MAX planes&nbsp;after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of countries around the world that have&nbsp;suspended the aircraft's operations.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-end-for-now-with-no-afghan-peace-deal-202982">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-taliban-talks-end-for-now-with-no-afghan-peace-deal-202982">, Taliban talks end for now with no Afghan peace deal</a>

US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up their longest round of peace talks on Tuesday with progress made but no agreement on when foreign troops might withdraw, officials from both sides said.

China's failure to designate Masood Azhar would run counter to goal of regional stability: US China has been reluctant in declaring Azhar as an international terrorist and has blocked his listing at United Nation's Security Council's 1267 committee.

China's failure to designate Masood Azhar would run counter to goal of regional stability: US China has been reluctant in declaring Azhar as an international terrorist and has blocked his listing at United Nation's Security Council's 1267 committee. Britain in Brexit chaos: Parliament rejects Theresa May's European Union deal again Lawmakers voted against May's amended Brexit deal by 391 to 242 as her last-minute talks with EU chiefs on Monday to assuage her critics' concerns ultimately proved fruitless. Pakistan test-fires 'smart weapon' for PAF's JF-17 Thunder fighter jet Amid tensions with India, Pakistan on Tuesday announced that it has successfully test-fired an indigenously developed extended range "smart weapon" from JF-17 Thunder fighter jet to provide it a very potent day and night capability to engage variety of targets with pinpoint accuracy. US not to suspend Boeing 737 MAX plane: Federal Aviation Administration The US aviation regulator said on Tuesday it would not ground Boeing Co 737 MAX planes after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people, bucking a trend of countries around the world that have suspended the aircraft's operations. US, Taliban talks end for now with no Afghan peace deal US and Taliban negotiators wrapped up their longest round of peace talks on Tuesday with progress made but no agreement on when foreign troops might withdraw, officials from both sides said.

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

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

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/do-not-give-economic-lifeline-for-maduro-regime-in-venezuela-pompeo-to-indian-foreign-secretary-vijay-gokhale-202737">Do not give economic lifeline for Maduro regime in Venezuela: Pompeo to Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale</a>

US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Monday expressed hope that India will supports its efforts in Venezuela by not purchasing oil from the "authoritarian" Maduro regime. The issue was discussed in a meeting with the visiting&nbsp;Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, Pompeo told reporters at a news conference here, without providing insight into it.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-to-upgrade-software-in-737-max-8-fleet-in-weeks-202738">Will upgrade software in 737 MAX 8 fleet in coming weeks: Boeing</a>

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 "design changes" in the aircraft by April.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-eu-agree-three-part-deal-on-brexit-deal-202716">UK, EU </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-eu-agree-three-part-deal-on-brexit-deal-202716">agree</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-eu-agree-three-part-deal-on-brexit-deal-202716"> </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-eu-agree-three-part-deal-on-brexit-deal-202716">three-part</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-eu-agree-three-part-deal-on-brexit-deal-202716"> deal on Brexit deal</a>

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday secured a three-part package of changes from the EU to the&nbsp;terms of its withdrawal deal, hoping to win over&nbsp;sceptical MPs.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/algerias-president-bouteflika-abandons-re-election-bid-after-weeks-of-protest-202747">Algeria's President Bouteflika abandons re-election bid after weeks of protest</a>

Algerian&nbsp;President Abdelaziz Bouteflika&nbsp;abandoned his bid for a fifth term in power on Monday, bowing to weeks of mass demonstrations against his 20-year rule by people demanding a new era of politics in a country dominated by an old guard.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-congress-declares-state-of-alarm-over-blackout-202729">Venezuela congress declares 'state of alarm' over </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-congress-declares-state-of-alarm-over-blackout-202729">blackout</a>

Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Monday declared a "state of alarm" over a&nbsp;five-day power blackout&nbsp;that has crippled the OPEC member&nbsp;country's oil exports&nbsp;and left millions of citizens scrambling to find food and water.&nbsp;

Do not give economic lifeline for Maduro regime in Venezuela: Pompeo to Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Monday expressed hope that India will supports its efforts in Venezuela by not purchasing oil from the "authoritarian" Maduro regime.

Do not give economic lifeline for Maduro regime in Venezuela: Pompeo to Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale US secretary of state Mike Pompeo on Monday expressed hope that India will supports its efforts in Venezuela by not purchasing oil from the "authoritarian" Maduro regime. The issue was discussed in a meeting with the visiting Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale, Pompeo told reporters at a news conference here, without providing insight into it. Will upgrade software in 737 MAX 8 fleet in coming weeks: Boeing 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. UK, EU agree three-part deal on Brexit deal British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday secured a three-part package of changes from the EU to the terms of its withdrawal deal, hoping to win over sceptical MPs. Algeria's President Bouteflika abandons re-election bid after weeks of protest Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika abandoned his bid for a fifth term in power on Monday, bowing to weeks of mass demonstrations against his 20-year rule by people demanding a new era of politics in a country dominated by an old guard. Venezuela congress declares 'state of alarm' over blackout Venezuela's opposition-run congress on Monday declared a "state of alarm" over a five-day power blackout that has crippled the OPEC member country's oil exports and left millions of citizens scrambling to find food and water.

Singapore's aviation regulator Tuesday banned the use of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-to-upgrade-software-in-737-max-8-fleet-in-weeks-202738">Boeing 737 MAX aircraft </a>in the country's airspace following a deadly Ethiopia plane crash at the weekend.

The Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi Sunday, killing all 157 people on board, months after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia killing 189.&nbsp;

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement it was "temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore in light of two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months."

It comes as airlines around the world remove the model from their schedules, while US regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the jet. 
Singapore's suspension will take effect from 2:00 pm (0600 GMT) Tuesday, the authority said.

It said that SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, operates six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

Other airlines operating the planes to Singapore are China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Shandong Airlines and Thai Lion Air.&nbsp;

The regulator said it was working with the city-state's Changi Airport -- a major global hub -- and affected airlines to minimise any impact on passengers.

"During the temporary suspension, CAAS will gather more information and review the safety risk associated with the continued operation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore," it said.

"The suspension will be reviewed as relevant safety information becomes available."

Singapore's aviation regulator Tuesday banned the use of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the country's airspace following a deadly Ethiopia plane crash at the weekend.

Singapore's aviation regulator Tuesday banned the use of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the country's airspace following a deadly Ethiopia plane crash at the weekend. The Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi Sunday, killing all 157 people on board, months after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia killing 189. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement it was "temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore in light of two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months." It comes as airlines around the world remove the model from their schedules, while US regulators have ordered Boeing to make urgent improvements to the jet. Singapore's suspension will take effect from 2:00 pm (0600 GMT) Tuesday, the authority said. It said that SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, operates six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Other airlines operating the planes to Singapore are China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Shandong Airlines and Thai Lion Air. The regulator said it was working with the city-state's Changi Airport -- a major global hub -- and affected airlines to minimise any impact on passengers. "During the temporary suspension, CAAS will gather more information and review the safety risk associated with the continued operation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore," it said. "The suspension will be reviewed as relevant safety information becomes available."

Singapore bans use of Boeing 737 MAX in its airspace

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

The United States told international carriers on Monday that the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/only-pilots-with-1000-hours-of-flying-experience-to-operate-boeing-737-max-dgca-202677">Boeing 737 </a>MAX 8 is airworthy as regulators scrutinize two fatal crashes of the new model of aircraft since October, but said it will mandate forthcoming "design changes" from Boeing by April.

An <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> 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 <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.

In a notice, the Federal Aviation Administration said it planned to require design changes by Boeing no later than April. Boeing is working to complete "flight control system enhancements, which provide reduced reliance on procedures associated with required pilot memory items," the FAA said.

The FAA also said Boeing "plans to update training requirements and flight crew manuals to go with the design change" to an automated protection system called the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS. The changes also include MCAS activation and angle of attack signal enhancements.

The FAA said in the notice made public that external reports are drawing similarities between the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. "However, this investigation has just begun and to date we have not been provided data to draw any conclusions or take any actions," according to the Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community for Boeing 737 MAX 8 operators.

US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told reporters regulators would not hesitate to act if they find a safety issue.

"If the FAA identifies an issue that affects safety, the department will take immediate and appropriate action," Chao told reporters. "I want people to be assured that we take these incidents, these accidents very seriously."

Boeing Co's top executive told employees on Monday he was confident in the safety of the US manufacturer's top-selling 737 MAX aircraft.

Reuters and other media outlets have reported that Boeing has for months planned design changes after the Lion Air crash in Indonesia but the FAA notice is the first public confirmation.

Canada's transport minister also said he will not hesitate to act once the cause of the crash is known.

FAA chief Dan Elwell on Monday said the notification basically "informs the international community where we are and (gives) sort of ... one answer to the whole community."

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org and a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, on Monday both said the plane should be grounded.

"The FAA’s 'wait and see' attitude risks lives as well as the safety reputation of the US aviation industry," Hudson said in a statement.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are both at the crash site in Ethiopia, Chao said.

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 Monday on the FAA notification, but said it was sending a team to Ethiopia to aid investigators.

The 737 line, which has flown for more than 50 years, is the world's best-selling modern passenger aircraft and viewed as one of the industry's most reliable.

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.

Boeing’s 737 MAX is the newest version of a jet that has been a fixture of passenger travel for decades and the cash cow of the world’s largest aircraft maker, competing against Airbus SE’s A320neo family of single-aisle jetliners. The 737 family is considered one of the industry’s most reliable aircraft.

The MAX has a bigger and more efficient engine compared to earlier 737 models.

Boeing rolled out the fuel-efficient MAX 8 in 2017 as an update to the already redesigned 50-year-old 737, and had delivered 350 MAX jets out of the total order tally of 5,011 aircraft by the end of January. 
&nbsp;

The United States told international carriers on Monday that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is airworthy as regulators scrutinize two fatal crashes of the new model of aircraft since October, but said it will mandate forthcoming "design changes" from Boeing by April.

The United States told international carriers on Monday that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 is airworthy as regulators scrutinize two fatal crashes of the new model of aircraft since October, but said it will mandate forthcoming "design changes" from Boeing by April. 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. In a notice, the Federal Aviation Administration said it planned to require design changes by Boeing no later than April. Boeing is working to complete "flight control system enhancements, which provide reduced reliance on procedures associated with required pilot memory items," the FAA said. The FAA also said Boeing "plans to update training requirements and flight crew manuals to go with the design change" to an automated protection system called the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System or MCAS. The changes also include MCAS activation and angle of attack signal enhancements. The FAA said in the notice made public that external reports are drawing similarities between the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia. "However, this investigation has just begun and to date we have not been provided data to draw any conclusions or take any actions," according to the Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community for Boeing 737 MAX 8 operators. US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao told reporters regulators would not hesitate to act if they find a safety issue. "If the FAA identifies an issue that affects safety, the department will take immediate and appropriate action," Chao told reporters. "I want people to be assured that we take these incidents, these accidents very seriously." Boeing Co's top executive told employees on Monday he was confident in the safety of the US manufacturer's top-selling 737 MAX aircraft. Reuters and other media outlets have reported that Boeing has for months planned design changes after the Lion Air crash in Indonesia but the FAA notice is the first public confirmation. Canada's transport minister also said he will not hesitate to act once the cause of the crash is known. FAA chief Dan Elwell on Monday said the notification basically "informs the international community where we are and (gives) sort of ... one answer to the whole community." Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, and Paul Hudson, the president of FlyersRights.org and a member of the FAA Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee, on Monday both said the plane should be grounded. "The FAA’s 'wait and see' attitude risks lives as well as the safety reputation of the US aviation industry," Hudson said in a statement. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are both at the crash site in Ethiopia, Chao said. 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 Monday on the FAA notification, but said it was sending a team to Ethiopia to aid investigators. The 737 line, which has flown for more than 50 years, is the world's best-selling modern passenger aircraft and viewed as one of the industry's most reliable. 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. Boeing’s 737 MAX is the newest version of a jet that has been a fixture of passenger travel for decades and the cash cow of the world’s largest aircraft maker, competing against Airbus SE’s A320neo family of single-aisle jetliners. The 737 family is considered one of the industry’s most reliable aircraft. The MAX has a bigger and more efficient engine compared to earlier 737 models. Boeing rolled out the fuel-efficient MAX 8 in 2017 as an update to the already redesigned 50-year-old 737, and had delivered 350 MAX jets out of the total order tally of 5,011 aircraft by the end of January.

Boeing 737 MAX 8 airworthy but it will make design changes: US

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

Joining a host of countries which have blocked the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/boeing-to-upgrade-software-in-737-max-8-fleet-in-weeks-202738">Boeing 737 MAX planes</a> from their airspace after the deadly crash, Australia on Tuesday barred the&nbsp;model of the&nbsp;Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed&nbsp;all 157 aboard on Sunday.

"This is a temporary suspension while we wait for more information to review the safety risks of continued operations of the Boeing 737 MAX to and from Australia," Shane Carmody, CEO of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said in a statement. "CASA regrets any inconvenience to passengers but believes it is important to always put safety first."

Fiji Airlines is the only 737 MAX operator affected by the Australian ban, according to CASA. Singapore-based SilkAir used the planes for flights to Australia, but those were already suspended after the city-state barred the model from its airspace.&nbsp;

South Korea on Tuesday became the latest country to suspend operations of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the model involved in the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

"We have advised Eastar Jet, the only South Korean airline that owns the B737-8 (two aircraft) -- the same model involved in the Ethiopian Airlines crash -- to ground them," the land, infrastructure and transport ministry said.

"Eastar Jet has agreed to do so, and told us it will suspend the aircraft's operations starting Wednesday," it said in a statement.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1nGDiy4634k" width="560"></iframe>

A number of countries (China, Indonesia, Singapore and Mongolia) had earlier grounded Boeing's 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet in response to the airline&nbsp;crash.

The Nairobi-bound plane was the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- with some detecting similarities between the two accidents.

There are some 350 of the 737 MAX 8 planes currently in service around the world and while some countries and airlines have opted to ground the planes, others are continuing to fly the aircraft pending an investigation into the crash and possible guidance from Boeing itself.

Boeing&nbsp;Co confirmed late on Monday that 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.

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Joining a host of countries which have blocked the Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace after the deadly crash, Australia on Tuesday barred the model of the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 aboard on Sunday.

Joining a host of countries which have blocked the Boeing 737 MAX planes from their airspace after the deadly crash, Australia on Tuesday barred the model of the Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 aboard on Sunday. "This is a temporary suspension while we wait for more information to review the safety risks of continued operations of the Boeing 737 MAX to and from Australia," Shane Carmody, CEO of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said in a statement. "CASA regrets any inconvenience to passengers but believes it is important to always put safety first." Fiji Airlines is the only 737 MAX operator affected by the Australian ban, according to CASA. Singapore-based SilkAir used the planes for flights to Australia, but those were already suspended after the city-state barred the model from its airspace. South Korea on Tuesday became the latest country to suspend operations of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the model involved in the Ethiopian Airlines crash. "We have advised Eastar Jet, the only South Korean airline that owns the B737-8 (two aircraft) -- the same model involved in the Ethiopian Airlines crash -- to ground them," the land, infrastructure and transport ministry said. "Eastar Jet has agreed to do so, and told us it will suspend the aircraft's operations starting Wednesday," it said in a statement. A number of countries (China, Indonesia, Singapore and Mongolia) had earlier grounded Boeing's 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet in response to the airline crash. The Nairobi-bound plane was the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- with some detecting similarities between the two accidents. There are some 350 of the 737 MAX 8 planes currently in service around the world and while some countries and airlines have opted to ground the planes, others are continuing to fly the aircraft pending an investigation into the crash and possible guidance from Boeing itself. Boeing Co confirmed late on Monday that 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.

Now, Australia & South Korea bar Boeing's 737 MAX from flying

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is monitoring the "Boeing situation very closely" in the wake of Ethiopian Airlines plane crash involving an aircraft manufactured by the American company, implying that these planes are not being grounded immediately.

Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said the DGCA is in touch with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

He stated this in the wake of an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on Sunday, involving Boeing 737 MAX 8, in which 157 people were killed.

The plane, on its flight to Nairobi, crashed shortly after taking off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

Earlier today, SpiceJet issued a statement stating that it will continue to fly <a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/all-our-five-boeing-737-max-planes-currently-grounded-jet-airways-202831">Boeing 737 MAX</a>.

"We are actively engaged with both Boeing and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and will continue to put safety first, as always. We have already implemented all additional precautionary measures as directed by the DGCA yesterday," read the statement.

"The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft. It has flown hundreds of thousands of hours globally and some of the world’s largest airlines are flying this aircraft," the organisation added.

The fuel-efficient 737 MAX is the fastest-selling plane in Boeing's history. The plane-maker has accumulated nearly 4,700 orders from more than 100 customers worldwide.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is monitoring the "Boeing situation very closely" in the wake of Ethiopian Airlines plane crash involving an aircraft manufactured by the American company, implying that these planes are not being grounded immediately.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is monitoring the "Boeing situation very closely" in the wake of Ethiopian Airlines plane crash involving an aircraft manufactured by the American company, implying that these planes are not being grounded immediately. Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola said the DGCA is in touch with Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He stated this in the wake of an Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on Sunday, involving Boeing 737 MAX 8, in which 157 people were killed. The plane, on its flight to Nairobi, crashed shortly after taking off from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa. Earlier today, SpiceJet issued a statement stating that it will continue to fly Boeing 737 MAX. "We are actively engaged with both Boeing and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and will continue to put safety first, as always. We have already implemented all additional precautionary measures as directed by the DGCA yesterday," read the statement. "The Boeing 737 MAX is a highly sophisticated aircraft. It has flown hundreds of thousands of hours globally and some of the world’s largest airlines are flying this aircraft," the organisation added. The fuel-efficient 737 MAX is the fastest-selling plane in Boeing's history. The plane-maker has accumulated nearly 4,700 orders from more than 100 customers worldwide.

DGCA closely monitoring Boeing situation: Civil aviation secretary

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

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