Indonesia to temporarily ground Boeing 737 MAX 8 jets for inspections after Ethopian air crash

Indonesia will temporarily ground Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft operating in the country for inspection, the director general of aviation said on Monday, in the wake of the deadly crash of one of the planes in Ethiopia.

A Nairobi-bound Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa on Sunday, killing all 157 on board.

"One of the steps that are being taken by the air transport directorate is conducting an inspection by temporarily grounding (Boeing 737 Max 8 planes), to ensure that this type of aircraft is airworthy," the Indonesian official, Polana Pramesti, said in a statement.

The inspection is set to start on Tuesday, with national carrier Garuda Indonesia now operating one MAX 8 and budget carrier Lion Air 10 planes.

Last October, a 737 MAX 8 operated by Lion Air crashed 13 minutes after take-off from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on a domestic flight, killing all 189 on board.