China’s civil aviation authority has mandated the temporary grounding of Boeing 737 Max aircraft operated by domestic airlines, according to reports following a fatal crash of an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8. The incident occurred Sunday, killing all 157 passengers and crew aboard.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) issued the directive after the crash, which marks the second fatal accident involving the 737 MAX model. The aircraft, which entered service in 2017, has faced scrutiny after a Lion Air 737 MAX 8 crashed in October 2018, killing 189 people. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
Domestic carriers operating approximately 60 737 MAX planes have halted flights, with some airlines switching to older 737-800 models. Air China and China Eastern reported all 737 MAX aircraft had landed by Sunday evening, while Cayman Airways and Fiji Airways confirmed their own grounding measures. Fiji Airways emphasized its confidence in the safety of its fleet, stating it maintains rigorous maintenance and training protocols.
Boeing declined to comment on the order, and the CAAC has not issued a formal statement. Flight tracking data showed no 737 MAX 8 aircraft operating over China as of Monday morning.
