UK CAA disallows all commercial Boeing 737 MAX passenger flights: “similarities between Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes”

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights using the Boeing 737 MAX from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace.

A spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the tragic incident in Ethiopia on Sunday.

“The UK Civil Aviation Authority has been closely monitoring the situation, however, as we do not currently have sufficient information from the flight data recorder we have, as a precautionary measure, issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace.

“The UK Civil Aviation Authority’s safety directive will be in place until further notice.

“We remain in close contact with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and industry regulators globally.”

Earlier, Norwegian Air announced the grounded of the aircraft type.

There are currently five 737 MAX aircraft registered and operational in the United Kingdom. A sixth is planned to commence operations later this week.

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is responsible for certifying all Boeing 737 MAX  models and it is the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) that validates this certification across the EU, including the UK.

Safety directory (SD) issued on 12 March 2019 concerning the Boeing 737-8 “MAX” and Boeing 737-9 “MAX” Limitation of Operations due to a Fatal Accident in Ethiopia on 10 March 2019

Description: This SD is made in the interests of safety of operation and to protect the public following the accident of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing Model 737-8 “MAX” aircraft on 10 March 2019. External reports are drawing similarities between this accident and Lion Air flight 610 on 29 October 2018 involving the same type of aircraft. Given the similarity of the two accidents, it has been decided that as a precautionary measure that all Boeing 737-8 “MAX” and Boeing 737-9 “MAX” operations in the United Kingdom, whether by UK AOC holders or foreign AOC holders and carriers, should stop until appropriate safeguards are in place.

Status: Current
Review Comment: None
Version: 1
Date: 12 March 2019

At least two UK-bound flights on the Boeing 737 MAX have turned around over Europe:

– TUrkish Airlines TK1997 towards London Gatwick
– Turkish Airlines TK1969 towards Birmingham