Nations, Not US, Ground Boeing 737 Max 8: AP

Fatal aircraft crashes are rare, and concerns quickly emerged after two Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft crashed soon after takeoff within six months: one in Indonesia and the other in Ethiopia. “The rest of the world typically takes it cues from the FAA, long considered the world’s gold standard for aircraft safety,” report Richard Lardner and Tom Krisher for the Associated Press. Safety regulators in China, the European Union, India and other countries – as well as at least 10 airlines – acted quickly to ground the planes and in some cases ban them from airspace. Boeing insists the plane is safe, and the US Federal Aviation Administration suggests there is not enough evidence to ground the planes. Members of US Congress, former regulators and other safety experts question the FAA decision. “The FAA has increasingly become cozy with airplane manufacturers and airlines when it should be more pro-active in safety, said Bill McGee, aviation adviser for Consumer Reports.” The United States has the largest share of the aeronautical space market. Safety is essential for this industry. Update: The US president grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 aircraft. – YaleGlobal