Several countries have now suspended Boeing 737 Max 8 flights.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) issued a statement on the matter on Tuesday afternoon (12 March), confirming the ban on all Max 8 aircraft from Irish airspace. This means that these planes cannot fly to or from Ireland, nor can they fly over Ireland en route to somewhere else.
The statement reads: “This decision has been taken based on ensuring the continued safety of passengers and flight crew, which is the IAA’s number one priority.” The ban will take effect from 3pm today.
The decision follows a second Max 8 crash in five months. Over the weekend, one Irish citizen was among 157 people killed as flight from Ethiopia to Kenya crashed after just six minutes in the air.
Serious questions have now been raised over the safety and airworthiness of the planes, and Ireland has joined the UK, Australia, China and Indonesia in suspending the Max 8. The United States has continued to allow the planes to operate for now.
Currently, neither Aer Lingus nor Ryanair operate any Max 8 planes, though Ryanair has purchased dozens of the aircraft, which are set to arrive next month. However, some airlines that frequently fly out of Ireland, such as Norwegian Air, do currently operate such planes.
As such, some Irish travellers will almost certainly be affected by the suspension.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
