FAA says Boeing 737 Max 8, the plane that’s crashed twice in 5 months, is still safe to fly (BA)

Associated Press

• Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 — the plane involved in two deadly crashes in five months — is safe to fly, US regulators said Monday. 
• The FAA said any links between Sunday’s crash and the Lion Air disaster in October have yet to be determined.
• Sunday’s disaster in Ethiopia that killed 157 passengers had striking similarities to the Lion Air disaster in October. 

The US’ top air safety regulator has said the plane model involved in Sunday’s Ethiopian Airlines crash, the second such disaster in five months, is safe to fly.

The Federal Administration said in a Continued Airworthiness Notification to the International Community (CANIC) on Monday evening that Ethiopian’s crash, which killed all 157 passengers on board, cannot yet be linked to that Lion Air flight 610, which plunged into the Java Sea 12 minutes after takeoff in October.

"External reports are drawing similarities between this accident and the Lion Air Flight 610 accident on October 29, 2018," the agency said. "However, this investigation has just begun and to date we have not been provided data to draw any conclusions or take any actions."

Still, the similarities caused several air carriers and country air travel regulators, to ground their fleets of 737 MAX 8’s pending further investigation.

US-based carriers, notably did not pull the planes from service, with many saying their aircraft are inspected regularly for readiness and safety.

Boeing said in a press release that a technical team will be traveling to the Ethiopian crash site to provide technical assistance in the investigation under the direction of Ethiopian authorities as well as the US National Transportation Safety Board.

"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board, and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team," the company said.

Now read: 

• Another Boeing 737 MAX 8 has crashed leaving no survivors. This time it was flying with Ethiopian Airlines
• People of 35 different nationalities were killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash, including eight Americans
• China grounds all its Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes following the deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash
• An Ethiopian Airlines passenger said he missed the crashed flight by 2 minutes: ‘I’m grateful to be alive’
• Boeing set to plunge 9% after fatal 737 MAX 8 crash killed 157 people in Ethiopia
• The black box from the crashed Ethiopian Airlines flight has been found
• Indonesia is grounding all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes after a crash in Ethiopia killed 157 people
• Boeing’s big drop is shaving more than 200 points off the Dow
• Some countries and airlines have grounded the Boeing 737 Max 8 after a 2nd crash involving the plane killed 157 people — here’s who’s taken action so far
• These are the victims of the Boeing 737 Max 8 crash in Ethiopia
• A Georgetown University law student who reportedly expressed a fear of flying is among the 157 dead in the Ethiopian Airlines crash
• The family of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 captain speaks out after deadly crash where 157 lost their lives

NOW WATCH: This Mercedes-Benz stretch van feels like a private jet

See Also:

• Some countries and airlines have grounded the Boeing 737 Max 8 after a 2nd crash involving the plane killed 157 people — here’s who’s taken action so far
• Indonesia is grounding all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes after a crash in Ethiopia killed 157 people
• Another Boeing 737MAX has crashed leaving no survivors. This time it was flying with Ethiopian Airlines.

SEE ALSO: Some countries and airlines have grounded the Boeing 737 Max 8 after a 2nd crash involving the plane killed 157 people — here’s who’s taken action so far

Source: Business Insider – grapier@businessinsider.com (Graham Rapier)