Authority investigates Ethiopia crash as more countries ground planes

Muscat: Authorities are currently investigating the crash on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 which crashed on Sunday, killing all passengers and crew members on board, even as more countries ground Boeing 737 Max 8 planes.

The American Federal Aviation Authority has released an updated statement which read, “An FAA team is on-site with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) in its investigation of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302. We are collecting data and keeping in contact with international civil aviation authorities as information becomes available. Today, the FAA will issue a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community CANIC for Boeing 737 MAX operators. The FAA continuously assesses and oversees the safety performance of US commercial aircraft. If we identify an issue that affects safety, the FAA will take immediate and appropriate action.”

This comes as Ethiopian Airlines grounded all of their 737 Max 8 planes, and after China announced doing the same. Most recently, Singapore joined the list of countries grounding their planes of that particular model.

A statement by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore read, “The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore in light of two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months.

“SilkAir, which operates 6 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, will be affected by the temporary suspension,” the statement added.

“CAAS has been in regular contact with SilkAir on its MAX operations since last year, and has been satisfied that it has been taking appropriate measures to comply with the necessary safety requirements.

During the temporary suspension, CAAS will gather more information and review the safety risk associated with the continued operation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore. CAAS is closely monitoring the situation and is in close communication with the US Federal Aviation Administration and other aviation regulators, as well as Boeing.

The suspension will be reviewed as relevant safety information becomes available.”