Argentina, S Korea ground, Australia bars 737 MAX from its airspace

Argentina, South Korea have grounded Boeing 737 MAX planes while Australia Australia has barred Boeing 737 MAX planes from its airspace after the deadly Ethiopian Airlines crash at the weekend, reports AFP.

"This is a temporary suspension while we wait for more information to review the safety risks of continued operations of the Boeing 737 MAX to and from Australia," Shane Carmody, CEO of Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority, said in a statement was quoted to have said on Tuesday. "CASA regrets any inconvenience to passengers but believes it is important to always put safety first."

Fiji Airlines is the only 737 MAX operator affected by the Australian ban, according to CASA. Singapore-based SilkAir used the planes for flights to Australia, but those were already suspended after the city-state barred the model from its airspace, it added.

The AFP also said Argentina's flagship carrier has joined airlines that have grounded their Boeing 737 Max 8 planes after the crash in Ethiopia.

Aerolineas Argentinas said late Monday it had ordered the suspension as it awaited the result of investigations into the crash of the Ethiopian Airlines plane, which killed all 157 aboard, it added.

"For Aerolineas Argentinas, safety is the most important value," the company was quoted to have said in a statement on the grounding of its five 737 Max 8 planes, out of a total fleet of 82.

Another AFP report quoting land ministry of the Korean nation, South Korea has also grounded Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.