Indonesia to let Boeing 737 Max fly again after '18 crash

Jakarta, December 29

Indonesia said on Wednesday it was lifting ban on Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft, three years after one crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff killing all 189 persons on board. The Transportation Ministry said in a statement that the aircraft would be permitted to fly in Indonesia, but only after airlines carry out airworthiness directives.

The ministry would also conduct inspections before the aircraft was allowed to operate in the country, said Novie Riyanto, the ministry’s director general of Civil Aviation. “Several flight operators have stated that they have carried out airworthiness orders for 737 MAX aircraft, in accordance with FAA provisions and will prepare training and simulators at the nearest facility, in Singapore,” Riyanto said. Governments grounded the Boeing 737 Max after 346 persons were killed in the crashes of the Lion Air flight in Indonesia on October 29, 2018, and an Ethiopian Airlines flight on March 10, 2019. —AP