Ethiopian Airlines crash: How to know if you’re flying on a Boeing 737 MAX 8

The Ethiopian Airlines crash has made people question the safety of the Boeing 737 MAX. 8

The accident was the second fatal crash in five months involving the aircraft, following the Lion Air crash in October 2018.

The latest incident has caused the biggest drop in Boeing shares since the aftermath of 9/11 and so far airlines in China, Ethiopia and the Cayman Islands have grounded their 737 MAX 8 planes.

The airlines that have grounded Boeing 737 Max jets following the Ethiopian Airlines crash

Most planes used for commercial flights are made by the same small group of companies, primarily Boeing or Airbus, and passengers have been travelling on the Boeing 737s since the 1960s.

However, the 737 MAX is a relatively new aircraft, which was first introduced in 2017.

Here's how to know if you’re flying on a 737 MAX 8:

• The 737 MAX 8 features split wingtips which point up and down at the ends, as shown in the video at the beginning of this article. However, this isn't a unique feature and some other 737s also have similar wingtips.
• You can also often check details of your aircraft on the booking page or email confirmation for your booking or by contacting the airline directly.
• There are different versions of the 737 MAX 8 for different sizes of aircraft. This means when flying on a 737 MAX, your confirmation may include the letter M, such as 7M7, 7M8 or 7M9.

It also depends where you’re flying.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority says there are currently only five Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircrafts registered and operational in the UK, with a sixth aircraft due to enter operation this week.

You can also find out whether your airline has decided to ground the 737 MAX 8 with many companies making public statements on the issue.

Experts say it is too early to know whether the two 737 MAX 8 crashes are related, or what caused the Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Boeing released the following statement in the aftermath of the crash on Sunday.

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