Ethiopian Plane Crash: India Grounds Boeing 737 MAX Aircraft

New Delhi: A day after issuing additional safety instructions for operating Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft in the aftermath of the Ethiopian plane crash, the aviation watchdog of India DGCA on Tuesday decided to ground the aircraft immediately.

“These planes will be grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations. As always, passenger safety remains our top priority. We continue to consult closely with regulators around the world, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to ensure passenger safety,” the DGCA said.

SpiceJet and Jet Airways operate this aircraft in India.

Earlier in the day, South Korea, Singapore, China Norwegian Air Shuttle, Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia had decided to ground this new model of the US aircraft manufacturer’s best-selling 737 as a precaution and to ensure their airworthiness.

Britain, France and Germany on Tuesday joined Australia, Singapore, Oman and Malaysia in banning the aircraft in their airspace.

On Sunday, a similar Boeing model flown by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, killing all 157 on board, including four Indians. This is the second following the second fatal accident involving a Boeing 737 MAX jet in just five months. In October 2018, one run by Indonesia’s Lion Air had crashed, killing 189 people.