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Chinese Carriers, Ethiopian Airlines Halt Use of Boeing 737 MAX 8 Aircraft After Crash (reuters.com)

Posted by msmash on from the treading-carefully dept.

China's aviation regulator today grounded nearly 100 Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 aircraft operated by its airlines, more than a quarter of the global fleet of the jets, after a deadly crash of one of the planes in Ethiopia. From a report: However, a U.S. official said it was unclear what information the Chinese regulator was acting on because the investigation of Sunday's crash, the second involving the latest version of the narrowbody jet, was in the early stages. Speaking on condition of anonymity as the topic is sensitive, the U.S. official said there were no plans to follow suit, as the jet had a stellar safety record in the United States and there was a lack of information on what caused the Ethiopian crash.

2 of 182 comments (clear)

  1. We must accuse China here by hackingbear · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Right, you can be sure of that.

    • If the Chinese regulator acts proactively, we suspect them of having an agenda;
    • If the Chinese regulator does not act, we describe them as authoritarian insensitive to people's rights;
    • If the FAA and Boeing delayed fixing the plane due to government shutdown, it is just boring business as usual;
    • If the plane is made in China, front pages and comment sections across Internet would be filled with "Made in China products are craps";
    • If the plane is made in USA, rare odd problem and silence is golden.

    We should continue to blame China for everything wrong on this planet, that will for sure Make America Great Again.

  2. What if the nuclear rules applied here? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Over 150 people just died, which is 3 Chernobyls. This means that aviation is a dead-end technology that cannot possibly be made safe at reasonable levels of cost. Germany takes the lead, mothballing all civilian aircraft now in use. From now on, Germans will use their rail network to carry domestic traffic. For international travel, Germany will build a new fleet of ships, wind powered and made of sustainable tree derived materials.

    The US will take a more measured approach. No new planes will be ordered, but airlines will continue to operate with existing craft until they age out, whereupon they will be replaced by buses. The UK will do the same, but will order one more aircraft from China, specially designed with 12 engines and parachutes for each passenger, to cost GBP 10 billion and be delivered in 2025.