The Boeing 737 MAX airliner, which began service in 2017, was involved in two fatal accidents, Lion Air Flight 610 on October 29, 2018, and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019, that resulted from a malfunction of the aircraft's new flight stabilizing software, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS).

After the Ethiopian Airlines crash, China and most other civil aviation authorities grounded the airliner over safety concerns. Other jurisdictions, including the U.S., followed suit as new evidence revealed similarities between both crashes. The groundings were ordered despite Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg's public assurances that the airplane was safe and a phone conversation with President Trump in which he "reiterated to the President our position that the MAX aircraft is safe", according to a Boeing statement. In response to increasing domestic and international pressure to take action, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the aircraft on March 13, 2019, reversing a Continued Airworthiness Notice issued two days prior. About 30 MAX aircraft were flying in U.S. airspace at the time and were allowed to reach their destinations. By March 18, every single Boeing 737 MAX plane (387 in total) had been grounded, which affected 8,600 weekly flights operated by 59 airlines across the globe. Several ferry flights were operated with flaps extended to circumvent MCAS activation.

The grounding subsequently became the longest ever of a U.S. airliner.

Regulating agencies

Date Authority March 11 Civil Aviation Administration Ministry of Transportation March 12 Civil Aviation Safety Authority Ministry of Transport Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority and EFTA European Aviation Safety Agency Civil Aviation Authority Directorate General for Civil Aviation Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Directorate General of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Authority Irish Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Meteorology Civil Aviation Authority National Institute of Civil Aviation Civil Aeronautical Authority Civil Aviation Authority Directorate General of Civil AviationTurkey shuts down airspace to all Boeing 737 MAX, Hürriyet Daily News (March 13, 2019) General Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation AdministrationThông cáo báo chí liên quan đến hoạt động khai thác loại tàu bay Boeing 737 Max Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam Thứ Tư, 13/03/2019 - 09:04 GMT+7 March 13 Civil Aviation Authority General Department of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Authority National Civil Aviation Agency Department of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Administration Transport Canada Civil Aviation Directorate General of Civil Aviation Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics Dirección General de Aviación Civil Department of Civil Aviation Danish Transport Authority Civil Aviation Authority Ministry of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Administration Civil Aviation Department Iraq Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Directorate General of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Agency Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Agency Civil Aviation Authority Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority Civil Aviation Authority State Aviation AdministrationUkraine suspends flights of two Boeing 737 models, Reuters (March 13, 2019) Federal Aviation Administration Civil Aviation Agency March 14 Department for Aviation Directorate of Civil Aviation Civil Aviation Authority Agence Nationale de l'Aviation Civile Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Civil Aviation Committee Ministry of Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development Directorate General of Civil Aeronautics Civil Aviation Authority Federal Air Transport Agency Civil Aviation AuthorityCivil Aviation Authority bans contentious Boeing 737 Max from Rwandan airspace Civil Aviation Directorate Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Civil Aeronautics Administration March 15 Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil Civil Aviation Organization Dirección Nacional de Aeronáutica March 16 National Civil Aviation Administration March 18 Directorate of Civil Aviation and Meteorology National Civil Aviation and Aviation Infrastructure Direction

March 11 China: The Civil Aviation Administration of China ordered all domestic airlines to suspend operations of all 737 MAX 8 aircraft by 18:00 local time (10:00 GMT), pending the results of the investigation, thus grounding all 96 Boeing 737 MAX planes (c. 25% of all delivered) in China. United States: The FAA issued an affirmation of the continued airworthiness of the 737 MAX. The FAA stated that it had no evidence from the crashes to justify regulatory action against the aircraft. Indonesia: Nine hours after China's grounding, the Indonesian Ministry of Transportation issued a temporary suspension on the operation of all eleven 737 MAX 8 aircraft in Indonesia. A nationwide inspection on the type was expected to take place on March 12 to "ensure that aircraft operating in Indonesia are in an airworthy condition". Mongolia: Civil Aviation Authority of Mongolia (MCAA) said in a statement "MCAA has temporarily stopped the 737 MAX flight operated by MIAT Mongolian Airlines from March 11, 2019." March 12 Singapore: the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, "temporarily suspends" operation of all variants of the 737 MAX aircraft into and out of Singapore. India: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) released a statement "DGCA has taken the decision to ground the 737 MAX aircraft immediately, pursuant to new inspections. Turkey: Directorate General of Civil Aviation suspended flights of 737 MAX 8 and 9 type aircraft being operated by Turkish companies in Turkey, and stated that they are also reviewing the possibility of closing the country's airspace for the same. South Korea: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) advised Eastar Jet, the only airline of South Korea to possess Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to ground their models, and three days later issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) message to block all Boeing 737 MAX models from landing and departing from all domestic airports. European Union: The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) suspended all flight operations of all 737-8 MAX and 737-9 MAX in the European Union. In addition, EASA published a Safety Directive, published at 18:23, effective as of 19:00 UTC, suspending all commercial flights performed by third-country operators into, within or out of the EU of the above mentioned models The reasons invoked include: "Technical decision, data driven, precautionary measure: Similarities with the Lion Air accident data; Application of EASA guidance material for taking corrective actions in case of potential unsafe conditions; Additional considerations: no direct access to the investigation, unusual scenario of a 'young' aircraft experiencing 2 fatal accidents in less than 6 months". Canada: Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said it was premature to consider groundings and that, "If I had to fly somewhere on that type of aircraft today, I would." Australia: The Civil Aviation Safety Authority banned Boeing 737 MAX from Australian airspace. Malaysia: The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia suspended the operations of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft flying to or from Malaysia and transiting in Malaysia. March 13 Canada: Minister of Transport Marc Garneau, prompted by receipt of new information, said "There can't be any MAX 8 or MAX 9 flying into, out of or across Canada", effectively grounding all 737 MAX aircraft in Canadian airspace. United States: President Donald Trump announced on March 13, that United States authorities would ground all 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft in the United States. After the President's announcement, the FAA officially ordered the grounding of all 737 MAX 8 and 9 operated by U.S. airlines or in the United States airspace. The FAA did allow airlines to make ferry flights without passengers or flight attendants in order to reposition the aircraft in central locations. Hong Kong: The Civil Aviation Department banned the operation of all 737 MAX aircraft into, out of and over Hong Kong. Panama: The Civil Aviation Authority grounded its aircraft. Vietnam: The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam banned Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from flying over Vietnam. New Zealand: The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand suspended Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from its airspace. Mexico: Mexico's civil aviation authority suspended flights by Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft in and out of the country. Brazil: The National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) suspended the 737 MAX 8 aircraft from flying. Colombia: Colombia's civil aviation authority banned Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes from flying over its airspace. Chile: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation banned Boeing 737 MAX 8 flights in the country's airspace. Trinidad and Tobago: The Director General of Civil Aviation banned Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 planes from use in civil aviation operations within and over Trinidad and Tobago. March 14 Taiwan: The Civil Aeronautics Administration banned Boeing 737 MAX from entering, leaving or flying over Taiwan. Japan: Japan's transport ministry banned flights by Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft from its airspace. March 16 Argentina: The National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) closed airspace to Boeing 737 MAX flights. June 27 Belgium issued a NOTAM extending the 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 ban until 2020.A2252/19 From:27 JUN 19 10:05 Till:30 DEC 19 23:59 EST Text:BOEING 737-8 MAX AND BOEING 737-9 MAX PROHIBITED IN BELGIAN AIRSPACE EXC NON COMMERCIAL FERRY FLT. REF THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY IN EXERCISE OF ITS POWERS IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION (EU) 2018/1139 ARTICLE 70

Airlines

After the Ethiopian Airlines crash, some airlines proactively grounded their fleets and regulatory bodies grounded the others. (This list includes 6 more 737 MAX aircraft than the official FAA record; these aircraft may have powered on their transponders, but not delivered to an airline. Some pre-delivered aircraft are located at Boeing Field, Renton Municipal Airport and Paine Field airports).

Date Airline Fleet size March 10Ethiopian Airlines 4 March 11Aerolíneas Argentinas 5Air China15Cayman Airways 2China Eastern Airlines 3China Southern Airlines 24Comair 2Eastar Jet 2Fuzhou Airlines 2Garuda Indonesia 1Gol Transportes Aéreos 7Hainan Airlines 11Kunming Airlines 2Lion Air 10Lucky Air 3MIAT Mongolian Airlines 1Okay Airways 2Royal Air Maroc 2Shandong Airlines 7Shanghai Airlines 12Shenzhen Airlines 6XiamenAir 10 March 129 Air 3Aeroméxico 6Air Italy 4Corendon Airlines 1Enter Air 2Fiji Airways 2Flydubai 15Icelandair 6Jet Airways 8LOT Polish Airlines 5Mauritania Airlines 1Norwegian Air International 9Norwegian Air Shuttle 6Norwegian Air Sweden 3S7 Airlines 2SilkAir 6Smartwings 8Sunwing Airlines 4TUI Airways 6TUI fly Belgium 4TUI fly Netherlands 3TUI fly Nordic 2Turkish Airlines 14 March 13Air Canada 24American Airlines 24Copa Airlines 6Southwest Airlines 34SCAT Airlines 1SpiceJet 13Thai Lion Air 3United Airlines 14WestJet 13 March 15Oman Air 5 UnknownSamoa Airways 1TUI fly Deutschland 1Total393

Effect on MAX flights At the time of its grounding, the MAX was operating 8,600 flights per week.