India joins global suspension wave; grounds all 18 Boeing 737 MAX planes

The civil aviation secretary has been directed to hold an emergency meeting with all airlines to prepare a contingency plan to avoid inconvenience to passengers

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), India’s aviation regulator, has grounded Boeing 737 MAX planes till “appropriate safety measures” are undertaken, joining a wave of suspensions of the aircraft in the wake of a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people.

“Passenger safety remains our top priority. We continue to consult closely with regulators around the world, airlines, and aircraft manufacturers to ensure passenger safety,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation tweeted late Tuesday night. “These planes will be grounded till appropriate modifications and safety measures are undertaken to ensure their safe operations.” 

There are 18 Boeing 737 Max planes