Government to issue statement on Boeing 737 MAX 8

Dar/Paris. The government is contemplating whether to issue a statement on Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 as the number of countries and airlines banning the medium-haul workhorse jet from their airspace increases.

The ban is in response to crash by a similar plane owned by the Ethiopian Airlines that killed all 157 people on board.

Read: 157 passengers feared dead as Kenya-bound Ethiopian Airlines plane crashes

Works, Transport and Communication Permanent Secretary Leonard Chamuriho told The Citizen yesterday that the government would soon issue a statement on whether or not Boeing 737 Max 8 plane would continue flying in the country’s airspace.

“We will issue a statement this week,” said Dr Chamuriho.

The Citizen understands that no local airline operates the Boeing 737 Max 8, but there were multiple planes of the same model flying from other countries to Tanzania or at least operating in the country’s airspace.

Until yesterday, a number of countries had banned Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet from their airspaces, while several airlines had grounded the plane in their fleets.

However, many others were continuing to fly the plane pending an investigation into the crash and possible guidance from Boeing itself.

Airlines still operating the model have been restricted by the airspace bans. Air Canada, for example, was obliged to cancel some flights to London because of Britain’s ban on the aircraft.

The Nairobi-bound plane was the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing 189 passengers and crew -- and some officials have detected similarities between the two accidents.

More than 370 of the 737 MAX 8s are in service around the world, with nearly 5,000 on order.

Here is a round-up of countries and airlines that have banned the 737 MAX 8 as of yesterday:

Asia-Pacific:

Australia

China

India

Indonesia

Kazakhstan

Malaysia

New Zealand

Middle East:

Egypt

Kuwait

Lebanon

Oman

United Arab Emirates -- including major hub Dubai

Africa:

Namibia

Europe

All the 28 European Union countries

Serbia

Airlines:

Outside of countries whose authorities have banned flights of 737 MAX jets, here is a list of individual airlines that have grounded them:

Aerolineas Argentinas

Aeromexico

Cayman Airways

Comair (South Africa)

Eastar Jet (South Korea)

Ethiopian Airlines

Gol Airlines (Brazil)

Icelandair

MIAT Mongolian Airlines

Norwegian Air Shuttle

S7 (Russia)