Indonesia allows Boeing\`s 737 MAX to fly again after fatal crash
Indonesia has lifted a ban on the Boeing 737 MAX_ its transport ministry said on Tuesday_ three years after the crash of one of the aircraft operated by domestic carrier Lion Air with the loss of all 189 people on board.
Aviation authorities around the world grounded the aircraft months later after a similarly deadly accident in March 2019 involving one of the aircraft operated by Ethiopian Airlines.
The approval for the aircraft s return in Indonesia comes months after it returned to service in the United States and Europe_ and follows more recent lifting of grounding orders in countries including Australia_ Japan_ India_ Malaysia_ Singapore and Ethiopia.
The lifting of the ban was effective immediately and it follows the evaluation of changes to the aircraft s system by regulators_ the ministry said in a statement.
Airlines must follow airworthiness directives and inspect their planes before they can fly the 737 MAX again_ it said_ adding that the government would also inspect the planes.
Privately owned Lion Air_ which operated 10 of the 737 MAX planes before the ban_ did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia said it had no plans to reintroduce the plane to its fleet as it focuses on debt restructuring_ chief executive Irfan Setiaputra told Reuters.
The state-controlled airline_ which had operated one 737 MAX before the ban_ has said it plans to cut its fleet from 142 to 66 planes under the plan.
Anton Sahadi_ a relative of one of the passengers on board the Lion Air plane that crashed_ urged the government to ensure proper management of the risks before returning the aircraft to service so that no planes of this model will ever fall and kill people again .
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