India grounds Boeing 737-800 MAX aircraft

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India’s civil aviation regulator on Tuesday suspended the operations of Boeing 737-800 MAX aircraft, after several other countries restrained their airlines from operating the aircraft type.

In a late night development, the Ministry of Civil Aviation tweeted: “DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has taken the decision to ground the Boeing 737-MAX planes immediately. These planes will be grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations.”

DGCA has taken the decision to ground the Boeing 737-MAX planes immediately. These planes will be grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations. (1/2)

— Ministry of Civil Aviation (@MoCA_GoI) March 12, 2019

“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.”

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. (2/2)

— Ministry of Civil Aviation (@MoCA_GoI) March 12, 2019

In another tweet, the ministry added:

Additionally no B737 Max aircraft will be allowed to enter or transit Indian airspace effective 1600hrs IST or 1030 UTC. The time line is to cater to situations where aircraft can be positioned at maintenance facilities & international flights can reach their destinations.(2/2)

— Ministry of Civil Aviation (@MoCA_GoI) March 13, 2019

Further, Commerce and Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu took to Twitter to direct officials to prepare a contingency plan to avoid inconvenience to passengers.

Directed Secy to hold an emergency meeting with all Airlines to prepare a contingency plan to avoid inconvenience to passengers. While passenger safety is a zero tolerance issue, efforts are already on to minimise the impact on passenger movement as their convenience is important https://t.co/9ZlJXFzvGY

— Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) March 12, 2019

Globally many countries have banned the operations of the aircraft after an Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 MAX flight crashed on Sunday killing all 157 people on board.