Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Korean Air may not introduce Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets
Boeing employees in front of a 737 MAX 8 produced for Southwest Airlines as Boeing celebrates the 10,000th 737 to come off the production line in Renton, Washington, on March 13, 2018. Reuters
By Jung Min-ho
Wreckage of the Ethiopia Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8, which crashed near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, March 10. EPA
By Jung Min-ho
Korean Air, the country's largest airline, may cancel its plan to introduce six Boeing 737-800 MAX planes this year after the new model crashed in Ethiopia on Sunday ― only six months after a deadly crash involving the identical model in Indonesia.
“It is still too early to tell, but the recent incidents could affect our plan,” a Korean Air official told The Korea Times Monday.
He spoke after the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, which killed all 157 passengers and crew.
Korean Air contracted to buy 50 of the model (20 optional) in 2015.
Last October, a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max went down over the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.
There is no evidence that the two disasters are linked, but both jets were almost brand new and both went down less than 15 minutes after take-off.
Globally, more than 300 Boeing 737-MAX planes are in operation and more than 5,000 have been ordered since 2017.
Eastar Jet is the only Korean airline that operates the model. It has two and plans to add four by the end of the year. Other Korean companies, including Jeju Air and T'way Air, also plan to introduce the model soon.
However, the results of Ethiopia's and Indonesia's investigations may force airlines to change their plans.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport ordered inspections of all Boeing 737-800 MAX planes in Korea, saying it was also considering ordering all airlines to delay bringing in the model.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China has already ordered domestic airlines to suspend flying their Boeing 737 Max planes. Chinese media outlet Caijing said domestic airlines, which operate about 60 such planes, received the government agency's orders and halted their use.
In a statement, Boeing said, “A technical team is prepared to provide technical assistance at the request and under the direction of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team.”
Regulators and airlines around the world are cautiously waiting for the initial findings of the investigation in Ethiopia.
Africa's aviation safety record has never been good, but Ethiopian Airlines is regarded as one of the region's best.