(NDTV)
India’s aviation watchdog DGCA has decided to immediately ground the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, days after an Ethiopian Airline crash killed 157 people, including four Indians. The planes will stay grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations, the Civil Aviation Ministry announced on Tuesday evening.
“As always, passenger safety remains our top priority. We continue to consult closely with regulators around the world, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to ensure passenger safety,” Civil Aviation Ministry said on Twitter. New Delhi’s decision comes after a number of countries grounded the new model of the US aircraft manufacturer’s best-selling 737. Among Indian carriers, SpiceJet has 13 jets of the model 8 variant in its 75-strong fleet while Jet Airways has five such aircraft. Following the DGCA’s decision, both the airlines have have suspended the operation of their 737 MAX 8 jets.
