The Latest on Boeing’s 737 Max 8 model after a crash in Ethiopia (all times local):
Continue Reading Below
12:50 p.m.
Cayman Airways says it is temporarily grounding the two Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft it operates in the wake of an Ethiopian Airlines crash involving the same plane model.
The Caribbean carrier said the grounding would take effect Monday. While he acknowledged the cause of the Ethiopian crash was unclear, airline President and CEO Fabian Whorms said the airline was taking the step because of its “commitment to putting the safety of our passengers and crew first.”
He said the move would lead to scheduling changes as the carrier copes with aircraft shortages.
Cayman received its first Max 8 in November and its second just this month.
Advertisement
The airline is the flag carrier of the Cayman Islands, a British Overseas Territory.
12:11 p.m.
The head of Indonesia’s national transport safety agency says it will offer to assist the Ethiopian investigation into the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane.
The same model of plane, operated by Lion Air, crashed in Indonesia in October, killing all 189 people on board. Like the Ethiopian Airlines crash on Sunday, which killed 157 people, the Lion Air jet had erratic speed in the few minutes it was in the air.
Soerjanto Tjahjono, chairman of the National Safety Transportation Board, said Monday that Indonesia can be a party to Ethiopia’s investigation because one of its citizens was among those who died in the crash.
He said, “However, we will also offer to assist the investigation process.”
