LAST UPDATE | 12 Mar 2019

THE EUROPEAN AVIATION Safety Agency (EASA) has announced that it is suspending all flight operations of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Europe. 

In a statement this afternoon it said the decision was taken after an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 went down minutes into a flight to Nairobi in Kenya on Sunday, killing all 157 people on board. 

Sunday’s crash comes four months after a Lion Air jet of the same model crashed in Indonesia killing 189.

The EASA has said that it is “continuously analysing the data” emerging relating to Sunday’s crash and that the decision to suspend Boeing 737 MAX operations in Europe as of 7pm today was taken as a “precautionary measure”. 

“The accident investigation is currently ongoing, and it is too early to draw any conclusions as to the cause of the accident,” the EASA has said in a statement. 

The Irish Aviation Authority’s (IAA) made a decision earlier this afternoon to temporarily suspend the operation of all variants of the Boeing aircraft into and out of Irish airspace.

“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 IAA said. 

The suspension took effect from 3pm today and follows an announcement by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority that it was banning these aircraft from its airspace. France and Germany have now also closed airspace to the Boeing 737 Max planes, according to France 24. 

Meanwhile, the Netherlands has also banned the aircraft from its airspace, according to Dutch infrastructure ministry spokesman Roel Vincken. 

A Norwegian flight to Newburgh, Orange County, New York – due to leave Dublin Airport at 3.20pm today – has been cancelled. Earlier today the airline said it was grounding its Boeing 737 Max fleet. An earlier 2.55pm flight to Providence was also cancelled. 

A spokesperson for the airline said it is looking at re-allocating passengers on other Norwegian flights and it is currently in the process of offering re-bookings to affected passengers. 

Norwegian temporarily suspends flights with the Boeing 737 MAX 8, following recommendations by European aviation authorities. We will do our utmost to take care of our passengers in the best possible way. https://t.co/1PvpWoSfbC

— Norwegian (@Fly_Norwegian) March 12, 2019

Turkish Airlines is the latest to ground all flights using its 12 Boeing 737 Max planes. 

In its statement, the Irish Aviation Authority said:

The IAA has been closely monitoring the situation, however, as we do not currently have sufficient information from the flight data recorder we have, as a precautionary measure, issued instructions to stop any flights on Boeing 737 MAX from any operator arriving, departing or overflying Irish airspace.

There are 13 Boeing 737 aircraft on the Irish aircraft register. The IAA said it will continue to work closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the manufacturer Boeing.

Advice for passengers

The Commission for Aviation Regulation (Car) has advised affected passengers to be aware of their entitlements.

In the event of a flight cancellation, the air carrier must offer you the choice between the following:

• re-routing as soon as possible;
• re-routing at a later date at your convenience; or
• a refund.

If you choose the first option the airline must provide you with care and assistance while you wait for the alternative flight. 

‘Care and assistance’ comprise:

• meals and refreshments in reasonable relation to the waiting time;
• hotel accommodation where an overnight stay becomes necessary;
• transport between the hotel accommodation and the airport;
• two free telephone calls/ access to email.

More information can be found on the Car website.