MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th March, 2019) The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) of the Commonwealth of Independent States expressed its readiness on Monday to assist in the investigation of Boeing 737 crash in central Indonesia to help determine what had caused the deadly accident.
Brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8, operated by Ethiopian Airlines, crashed not far from the Ethiopian town of Bishoftu in the morning of March 10 soon after departing from capital Addis Ababa for Kenya's Nairobi with 149 passengers and eight crew members on board. All those aboard the plane have been killed.
"The Interstate Aviation Committee, as the international independent accident investigation body that is recognized worldwide and has experience in the international investigation, is ready, if necessary, to participate in the investigation to determine the causes of this crash and to develop measures to prevent such tragedies in the future," the IAC said in a statement published on its official website.
The Aviation Committee also conveyed condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
"The Interstate Aviation Committee took with deep grief the fatal accident ... This terrible tragedy echoed in the hearts of aviators of all the countries of the world. We grieve together with the world aviation community and express the words of solidarity and compassion to the families and friends of the victims," the committee said.
The accident has prompted Ethiopian Airlines to temporarily ground its entire Boeing 737 MAX 8 fleet as a precaution, a move that was echoed by the Civil Aviation Administration of China, which banned airlines operating in China from flying this Boeing model inside the country.
China has in particular expressed concern over the fact that the crash in Ethiopia resembled the accident in Indonesia last October, involving another new Boeing 737 MAX 8, which crashed soon after take-off as well.
