WEEKLY NEWS | Boeing 737 Max 8 Ethiopian Airlines Crash
On Sunday, March 10th 2019 @ approximately 8:45 am, the Ethiopian Airline that was carrying 157 passengers on a Boeing 737 Max 8, six minutes after take off, crashed near Bishoftu southeast of Addis Ababa, killing all passengers. The victims were of 35 different nationalities.
The pilot was a senior Ethiopian Airlines pilot who had flown more than 8000 hours and had an excellent record. According to the Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam, he told reporters that the pilot reported technical difficulties after takeoff and asked for clearance to return to Addis Ababa.
At the time the CEO spoke to reporters, they were unable to determine why the plane had crashed. According to Ethiopian Airlines website, it states that “it has a reputation of being one of the best airlines in Africa. It has a good safety record and the newest fleet of planes on the continent.”
Boeing 737 Max 8 Jets Are Grounded Nearly Everywhere. The jets typically make more than 8,500 flights per week worldwide.
What has been causing a lot of concern is that only 4 months ago, the same type of Boeing 737 MAX 8 which is the Indonesian Lion Air jet crashed soon after takeoff from Jakarta in 2018 -- killing 189 people.
Many airlines have decided not to fly this model, months after a similar Lion Air crash off Indonesia, with the exception of South West, American Airlines and Air Canada. The Federal Aviation Administration in the US has advised they will not ground the Boeing despite the increased pressure because it has, “no basis to order grounding the aircraft.” The US investigators and others are at the crash site and it has been reported that the investigation will be focused on the voice & data recorders; however, American Airlines has advised they will not force their flight attendants to fly if they feel it is unsafe to do so. Which may ultimately impact the likelihood of grounding the planes temporarily.
Chinese aviation officials prayed next to an offering of fruit, bread rolls and injera, an Ethiopian flatbread, at the crash scene on Tuesday.CreditMulugeta Ayene/Associated Press
In other parts of the world, such as the European Union, India, France, Germany, Britain, Ireland, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and Oman, all joined China and Indonesia in suspending all use of the Boeing 737 Max model. This has seen the most sweeping regulatory action taken in the first two days. Because at least 34 airlines have now grounded the Max 8, means that roughly two-thirds of the Max 8 planes in operation are now idled.
This has caused a huge disruption as the European Union regulator, known as EASA has suspended all commercial flights performed by third-country operators into, within, or out of the E.U.” of the Max 8 and Max 9.
While this situation continues, more countries are adding the suspension of this Boeing to the list, the latest being Fiji as of Wednesday Morning. Airlines have been accommodating passengers with other flights in and out, but there has been no confirmation of how disruptive this has been to travel plans.
Although, there has been discussion about how the planes of lately, been taking the control away from the pilots; Pilots and aviation experts have said repeatedly that flying is now safer than it has ever been.
Our heartfelt condolences goes out to all the victims families who were on board the Boeing 737 Max 8.
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The Luxe and Lavish Team