FLIGHTMARE
Boeing 737 Max planes grounded worldwide triggering travel chaos, airport delays after Ethiopia Airlines crash
PASSENGERS across the globe have been hit by airport delays and travel chaos after all Boeing 737 Max planes were grounded following the deadly Ethiopia plane crash.
The US became the last country to temporarily ban the jets over safety concerns, joining 40 others including the UK, France, Germany, China, India and Australia.
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American and Southwest Airlines immediately cancelled a number of flights after Donald Trump made the announcement on Wednesday.
Long queues were also seen at airports in Toronto and Vancouver after Air Canada scrambled to re-book passengers onto different flights.
The move to ground the Boeing 737 Max planes comes after 157 died when an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed on Sunday – the second air disaster involving the model in less than five months.
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On the day of chaos
- 50 countries have grounded Boeing 737 Max jets
- The decision to ground Boeing 737 Max comes after 157 people died in the Ethiopian plane crash
- American and Southwest Airlines immediately cancelled a number of flights after Donald Trump made the announcement on Wednesday
- For Brits, TUI and Norweigian Air are the only airlines operating
- TUI said customers due to fly home today on a 737 Max 8 from their holiday will be flown back on another aircraft
Enhanced satellite tracking data has linked the Ethiopian jet's movements to those of an Indonesian Lion Air flight that plunged into the Java Sea in October and killed 189 people.
This is what prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue an emergency order keeping the planes on the tarmac.
Donald Trump announced: "Any plane currently in the air will go to its destination and thereafter be grounded until further notice. So planes that are in the air will be grounded, if they’re the 737 MAX, will be grounded upon landing at the destination.”
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With Tui and Norwegian Air the only two airlines still operating the model until this morning, here's how Brits will be affected.
A spokesperson for TUI told Sun Online Travel: "TUI Airways can confirm that all 737 MAX 8 aircraft currently operating in the UK have been grounded following the decision from the UK regulatory authorities today.
"Any customers due to fly home today on a 737 MAX 8 from their holiday will be flown back on another aircraft.
Norwegian have also confirmed that they are temporarily suspending flights on Boeing 737 MAX 8.
In a statement to Sun Online Travel, the carrier said: "Following the decision by the relevant aviation regulatory bodies to temporarily suspend operations of Boeing 737 MAX, Norwegian will not operate any flights with this aircraft type until further notice.
"We remain in close dialogue with the aviation authorities and Boeing, and follow their instructions and recommendations."
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China orders its airlines to ground Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets following deadly Ethiopia Airlines crash
The airline has not yet confirmed if or how many passengers might be affected.
Norwegian has advised passengers with upcoming flights to , and to sign up to free SMS alerts on their flights.
Customers can also use the airline's chat service to find out more about their own flight.
Earlier today, the CAA announced that it has banned all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes from the UK airspace, which will affect any flights due to fly in or out from the UK.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: "As we do not currently have sufficient information from the flight data recorder we have, as a precautionary measure, issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace.
"The UK Civil Aviation Authority's safety directive will be in place until further notice.
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Passengers who are concerned about their safety and want to find out what plane they will be travelling on for an upcoming journey can use by putting the airline, date and flight number in.
However, it's worth bearing in mind that airlines will sometimes change the aircraft they use at the last minute for operational reasons.
The Boeing 737 Max is the best selling commercial jet in history with the latest version being operated by airlines around the world.
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How to check if you're on a Boeing 737 Max 8
A quick Google search will bring up your flight number and possibly the type of plane scheduled to be used.
If this isn't listed, get in touch with the airline by phone or the internet to ask what plane is used one that route.
The airline's website should be able to tell you if you have already booked a trip using your booking reference.
You can also check an aviation tracking website or app such as and
This will require a flight number to find out which plane or planes are typically used on a certain route.
Alternatively, use the plane's registration number to look up details, including the type of plane and how old it is, on a public database run by a civil aviation body.
In the UK, this means checking the Civil Aviation Authority's
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Boeing itself said it had "full confidence" in the safety of the 737 MAX fleet.
The company said: "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."
China ordered its airlines to ground the planes — they had 96 MAX 8 jets in service, more than one-fourth of the roughly 370 MAX jets in circulation.
The European Aviation Safety Agency said that “at this early stage” of the more recent investigation, “it cannot be excluded that similar causes may have contributed to both events.”
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Boeing 737 Max 8 banned from UK airspace following Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed all 157 on board
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