SINGAPORE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS BOEING 737 MAX AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS

PHOTO: BOEING

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has temporarily suspended the operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX flying into and out of Singapore in light of the two fatal accidents involving the aircraft in less than five months.   

The suspension is effective 2 pm today, it said in a statement.

SilkAir, which operates six Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, will be affected by the temporary suspension, CAAS said.

Other airlines currently operating using the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to Singapore are China Southern Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Shandong Airlines and Thai Lion Air.

CAAS said it is working with the Changi Airport Group and the affected airlines to minimise any impact on travelling passengers.

The authority said it was in regular contact with SilkAir on its MAX operations since last year, and was satisfied that it had been taking appropriate measures to comply with the necessary safety requirements.

SOURCE: AFP

During the temporary suspension, CAAS said it would gather more information and review the risk associated with the continued operation of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore.

CAAS is also in close communication with the United States Federal Aviation Administration and other aviation regulators, as well as Boeing.

The suspension will be reviewed as and when the relevant safety information becomes available, it said.

SOURCE: BERNAMA