Japan bans Boeing 737 Max flights

NHK -- Mar 15

Japan has temporarily banned all flights of Boeing 737 Max aircraft in the country's airspace.

Japan's decision on Thursday came after the US Federal Aviation Administration ordered the temporary grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 aircraft, in response to a fatal crash on Sunday of Ethiopian Airlines' 737 Max 8.

No Japanese airlines operate 737 Max aircraft.

The transport ministry's order bans any foreign airlines flying the aircraft into Japanese airspace.

Foreign airlines that operate regular flights of 737 Max aircraft in Japan have already switched to other aircraft following the crash in Ethiopia.