11 Mar 2019 | 11:20 AM UTC
Indonesia: Indonesia grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet March 11 /update 2
Indonesia aviation authorities ban use of Boeing 737 8 MAX planes on March 11 following Ethiopian Airlines crash; Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia airlines affected by ban
Event
The Indonesian Transport Ministry banned the use of Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes on Monday, March 11, following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight the day prior. Indonesia airlines fly approximately 11 of the planes. The following airlines operate the 737 MAX 8: Lion Air and Garuda Indonesia. It is unclear how long the planes may remain grounded; associated flight delays, cancelations, and other disruptions are possible for Indonesian airline flights in the coming days and weeks.
Other airlines have announced they are "closely monitoring" the situation and further suspensions of operations are possible.
Context
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashed shortly after takeoff on March 10, killing all 157 people on board. It is not yet known what caused the crash and an investigation is underway. The same model of plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 8, was also involved in a fatal Lion Air crash in October 2018 that killed all 189 people on board. Should it be determined that the two crashes are linked, a more widespread grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet is to be anticipated.
On March 10, Ethiopian Airlines announced it would suspend operation of all Boeing 737 MAX 8 until further notice. Ethiopian Airlines has four other 737 MAX 8 planes. Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) directed Chinese national carriers to suspend operation of Boeing 737 MAX 8 by Monday. Domestic Chinese carriers use 96 of the 787 MAX 8 planes. Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern operate the largest number of these planes, though the ban is also expected to affect Shanghai Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Lucky Air, Okay Airways, 9 Air, Fuzhou Airlines, and Kunming Airlines.
Advice
Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor developments to the situation, anticipate possible flight disruptions (including delays and cancelations) in the coming days, and maintain flexible travel itineraries. Contact your airline directly for more information.
