Minister of Transport Budi Karya Sumadi has announced that the Boeing 737 MAX 8 will be banned from flying during the Eid-al-Fitr holiday season.
“Boeing 737 MAX 8s are not allowed to fly, even though it’s peak season for commercial flights around Eid al-Fitr holiday season,” he told journalists in Tangerang, Banten Province. Airline companies have also been instructed to stop the operation of the Boeing 737 MAX 8.
The ban will remain for safety reasons, until further investigation about the aircraft’s safety is concluded. Previously, Indonesia had sought advice from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the Boeing 737 MAX 8s after an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed on 10th March 2019, killing all 157 on board. In October 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 Lion Air plane also crashed into the Java Sea shortly after take-off, killing all of its passengers.
The FAA’s reply would therefore serve as a crucial reference for Indonesia’s future aviation industry to ensure its safety and security.
Source: Tempo
Image: The Telegraph