Ethiopian Airlines announced the indefinite suspension of its four Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on March 11, 2019, following the fatal crash of one such plane that claimed 157 lives. The airline stated the decision was a precautionary measure pending investigation into the incident, which occurred just 134 days after a similar Boeing 737 MAX crash involving Indonesia's Lion Air.
China mandated its airlines to halt 737 MAX 8 operations by 6 p.m. on March 11, 2019, after the Ethiopian Airlines crash. Ethiopian lawmakers declared a national day of mourning for the victims, with emergency workers collecting personal effects from the crash site. Kenyan officials confirmed contact with 25 of the 32 Kenyan passengers' families, according to transport cabinet secretary James Macharia.
The grounding decision came as aviation authorities worldwide reassessed safety protocols for the 737 MAX series, which had faced scrutiny since the October 2018 Lion Air disaster. Ethiopian Airlines emphasized its commitment to passenger safety while awaiting official accident findings.
