Saturday 20 / April / 2024
Muscat: Aircraft maker Boeing has announced that every 737 Max jet operating across the globe will be grounded.
The company released a statement following the decision of multiple aviation authorities to ground 737 Max operations after two fatal crashes in the space of a few months involving Max jets.
The company's statement read, "Boeing has determined -- out of an abundance of caution and in order to reassure the flying public of the aircraft’s safety -- to recommend to the FAA the temporary suspension of operations of the entire global fleet of 371 737 MAX aircraft.
Dennis Muilenburg, president, CEO, and Chairman of The Boeing Company said, “On behalf of the entire Boeing team, we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in these two tragic accidents."
“We are supporting this proactive step out of an abundance of caution. Safety is a core value at Boeing for as long as we have been building airplanes; and it always will be. There is no greater priority for our company and our industry. We are doing everything we can to understand the cause of the accidents in partnership with the investigators, deploy safety enhancements and help ensure this does not happen again," the CEO said.
On the 12th March, Oman’s Public Authority for Civil Aviation decided to suspend all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operating into and out of the country’s airports until further notice.
The decision came after a Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines, which was flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, crashed just six minutes after take-off at 8:38 am on Sunday.
All 157 people on board, which included 149 passengers across 35 different nationalities, and eight crew, died.
In the wake of the accident, Oman and several other countries have decided to temporarily stop operations of the Boeing 737 MAX in their airspace, which could affect passengers and their flight schedules. Oman Air has also decided to cancel some of its routes between 12-19 March.
