China’s aviation authority ordered airlines to halt operations of 96 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on March 11, 2019, following two fatal crashes involving the model. The move affected nearly a quarter of the global fleet, including planes operated by Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern.
An Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX 8 crashed shortly after takeoff on March 10, killing all 157 aboard. This followed a Lion Air crash in October 2018 that claimed 189 lives. Both incidents involved newly delivered aircraft during takeoff, prompting the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to implement the suspension.
The CAAC stated the decision aligned with its safety principles, emphasizing the need for further investigation into potential design links between the accidents. Boeing declined to comment, while Chinese airlines reported 29 canceled international and domestic flights due to the grounding.
China Eastern Airlines’ chairman demanded Boeing provide a safety guarantee before resuming flights. Ethiopian Airlines and Cayman Airways also grounded their 737 MAX 8 fleets, though other operators like Singapore Airlines maintained operations. U.S. officials noted no immediate plans to follow China’s lead, citing the aircraft’s safety record in America.
The 737 MAX 8, introduced in 2017, remains under scrutiny as regulators worldwide assess its safety. Over 4,600 units are on order globally, with 350 delivered by January 2019.
