Singapore temporarily suspends operations of 737 MAX
The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore in a statement issued yesterday, April 12 ordered temporary suspension of all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in and out of the country with effect from 1400 hrs of the same day.
Singapore's announcement comes after an Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday involving a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jet that killed 157 people. In October last year, Lion Air 737 MAX 8 crashed in Indonesia, killing 189 people.
The statement said, "The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) is temporarily suspending operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in and out of Singapore in light of two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in less than five months".
"During the temporary suspension, CAAS will gather more information and review the safety risk associated with the continued operation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in and out of Singapore," the statement added.
Flight schedule of SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, which operates 737 MAX planes, will be affected by the decision. Other airlines operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft to Singapore are China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Shandong Airlines and Thai Lion Air.
"CAAS is closely monitoring the situation and is in close communication with the US Federal Aviation Administration and other aviation regulators, as well as Boeing," said in the statement.
The suspension will be reviewed as "relevant safety information becomes available".
According to CAAS, they are working with Changi Airport and the affected airlines to minimise the impact to passengers.
