MALAYSIA will remain a “no-fly zone” for the Boeing 737 Max 8 pending the outcome of investigations into two deadly crashes involving the plane model, the Transport Ministry said.

The ban on the Boeing model in Malaysian airspace was ordered by the Civil Aviation Authority on March 12 following the Ethiopian Airlines crash recently and the Lion Air crash in October last year.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Malaysia would keep up with developments as the global aviation community awaits the crash reports.

“We will follow the developments and make a decision from time to time,” he said at the Parliament lobby today.

Several countries including US, Canada, India and China and all of Europe have grounded their Max 8 fleets.

None of the airlines operating in Malaysia have a Max 8 in use.

National carrier Malaysian Airlines, meanwhile, is reviewing its RM22.5 million order for 25 planes from Boeing.

Investigations into the two crashes which killed all on board are said to be focused on the computer software in the plane’s anti-stall system, which had caused the two planes to plunge to the ground minutes after takeoff. – March 21, 2019.