METRO AIRPORT (WXYZ) — Investigators are still searching the scene in Ethiopia where a Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed shortly after takeoff Sunday.
All 157 people on board were killed.
This is the second major crash in five months involving the Boeing 737 MAX 8; 189 people died in October when the same aircraft model crashed into the Java Sea shortly after leaving Indonesia.
The two incidents are not related, however several airlines and regulating agencies are grounding the model as a safety measure — including the European Union’s Aviation Safety Agency and several airlines throughout Asia.
Thus far Canada and the United States’ FAA have not made recommendations to ground the plane.
It’s something Suzanne Hite, traveling to South Carolina from the Detroit Metro Airport Tuesday, wishes would change.
“It’s heart wrenching to hear that people are dying in airplanes that are supposed to be safe,” Hite told 7 Action News.
Larry Simpson is less concerned.
“I might look for it in the future but I assume that it will get resolved by the regulators and they won’t let it fly or they’ll identify what the issues are,” he said prior to boarding his flight to Rochester.
Boeing released a statement following Sunday’s crash:
“Safety is Boeing’s number one priority and we have full confidence in the safety of the 737 MAX. We understand that regulatory agencies and customers have made decisions that they believe are most appropriate for their home markets. We’ll continue to engage with them to ensure they have the information needed to have confidence in operating their fleets. The United States Federal Aviation Administration is not mandating any further action at this time, and based on the information currently available, we do not have any basis to issue new guidance to operators.”
According to Boeing, there are 370 MAX 8 planes worldwide. Around 70 are flying in the US.
American Airlines and Southwest both carry the 737 MAX 8 in their fleet.
United Airlines carries the 737 MAX 9, a longer version of the plane.
Hite said she often checks the aircraft model before she flies.
Generally, you can find that information through your airline 24-hours prior to your flight.
