Boeing MAX 8 aircraft ban causes planes to turn back mid-flight

Boeing 737 Max 8 planes bound for the UK have been forced to turn back mid-flight after the country suspended the aircraft in and out of its’ airspace.

Planes bound for the United Kingdom have been forced to turn back mid-flight after the country banned all Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft from flying in or out of its’ airspace.

Turkish Airlines 1997 was already en route from Istanbul to London Gatwick when the ban came into effect, meaning it had to change course immediately, CNN reports.

Turkish Airlines flight 1969 was on its way to Birmingham from Istanbul when it had to pull a similar move.

In a statement issued on Twitter, Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi said all Boeing 737 Max flights are suspended until the “uncertainty affecting safety is cleared.”

Late on Tuesday night (Australia time) Britain joined a growing number of countries grounding the new Boeing plane involved in the Ethiopian Airlines disaster as experts chased details on why the plane crashed shortly after takeoff on Sunday, killing all 157 on board.

Ireland matched the UK’s decision, and France also closed its’ airspace to the planes.

It followed the announcement by Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority on Tuesday that it was temporarily suspending operation of the planes while investigations into the cause of the accident continue

Oman, Norwegian Air Shuttle, South Korean airline Eastar Jet and Singapore Airlines-owned SilkAir have also halted use of the Boeing 373 Max 8. Malaysia and Singapore suspended all flights into or out of their countries.

This is despite Boeing issuing a statement saying it has “full confidence in the safety” of its 737 MAX jets and it is not issuing any new guidance.
 
America’s President Donald Trump weighed in, tweeting that additional “complexity creates danger” in modern aircraft and hinders pilots from making “split second decisions” to ensure passengers’ safety.