With the intention of upgrading the existing Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft and competing with rival manufacturer Airbus with its A320 New engine option (A320neo) planes, Boeing introduced the 737 MAX series in May 2017. The timelineOn October 29, 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX operated by Lion Air crashed off the coast of Indonesia, into the Java Sea – killing all 189 passengers on board. 737 MAX planes were then grounded by aviation regulators across the globe. It was only in November 2020 that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) gave Boeing the green signal to have its 737 MAX planes return to service. Following this, Alaska and United Airlines reported loose parts in their Boeing 7373 MAX planes’ door panels, ultimately leading to the grounding of the 737 MAX 9 planes.

Source: Ethiopian News January 12, 2024 10:45 UTC