India grounds all Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft

DGCA has decided to ground the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft after the Ethiopian Airline crash, which killed 157 people, including four Indians. According to an announcement by Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the planes will stay grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations. MoCA on Twitter announced, “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.” The decision by Indian Government came after a number of countries grounded the new model of the US aircraft manufacturer’s best-selling 737. SpiceJet has 13 jets of the model 8 variant in its 75-strong fleet while Jet Airways has five of these aircraft, and after the DGCA directive, both the airlines have suspended the operation of their 737 MAX 8 jets.