Chinas aviation regulator has asked domestic airlines to suspend the operations of Boeing MAX 8 following the deadly crash for the aircraft model by 6 p.m on Monday following the fatal crash of the Ethiopian airlines flight ET302 that killed 157 people who were on board.
“Given that the two accidents involved newly delivered Boeing 737-8 planes, and happened during the takeoff phase suggests some similarities between them,” said the China Civil Aviation Administration.
The same Ethiopian airline was involved in the same type of aircraft in Lion Air crash in Indonesia in October 2018 and killed 189 people on board.
The administration said they had issued the notice to suspend the operations because both crashes occurred during the take-off phase and promised to contact the US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing before updating on when the flights will recommence.
The aviation industry however comments that it is too soon for them to establish if there is a connection between the two crashes.
The October crash became a focus of intense interest and debate in aviation circles because of the fact that pilots did not need to be informed about a change introduced to the 737’s flight control system.
The company was trying to minimize the costs of retraining pilots, leaving the Lion Air crew without full understanding of how to address the any malfunction that could have contributed to the deadly crash.
The Ethiopian crash happened at 08;44 local time, killing 149 passengers and 8 crew members who had just left Ethiopia for Nairobi. Among the passengers were 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, eight Americans and seven British Nationals.
Ethiopia has declared Monday a national day of mourning.
Leaders from different countries in the globe have also expressed their sadness through various social media platforms.
UK prime Minister Theresa may through her tweeter handle condoled with the families and friends of the deceased.
“ I was deeply saddened to hear of the devastating loss of life at this very difficult time, my thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected by the crash,” she said.
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