Boeing 737 MAX 8 groundings spread across the globe

As the deadly plane crash in Ethiopia which killed 157 people continue to spiral, more countries suspended Boeing 737 MAX aircraft out of safety concerns, after two flights using the same plane crashed, resulted in the death of 346 people.

Countries including European Union (EU) nations, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and India have all joined the suspension after China, Indonesia and Singapore first reacted and issued the suspension.

As of press time, a total of 21 countries around the world banned Boeing 737 MAX flights, and 23 airline companies banned Boeing 737 MAX.

Boeing's shares fell 6.15 percent to 375.41 U.S. dollars on Tuesday, adding to a five percent decline on Monday and putting it on course for its biggest two-day percentage drop since June 2009.

Boeing, the world's biggest planemaker, which has seen billions of dollars wiped off its market value since the crash, said it understood the countries' actions but retained "full confidence" in the 737 MAX and had safety as its priority.

Here is a list of groundings so far:

China's aviation regulator on Monday grounded 96 MAX 8s including those operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Hainan Airlines.

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

Singapore's Civil Aviation Authority suspended operations of all Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in and out of the country.

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority said it had temporarily suspended the operation of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft to or from the country.

Austria has decided to ground Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for security reasons until further notice, its transport minister said.

New Zealand's aviation regulator on Wednesday suspended Boeing Co BA.N 737 MAX aircraft from flying to or from the country. "This is a temporary suspension while we continue to monitor the situation closely and analyze information as it comes to hand to determine the safety risks of continued operation of the Boeing 737 MAX," said Civil Aviation Authority Director of Civil Aviation Graeme Harris, in an emailed statement.

Belgium closed down its air space for Boeing 737 MAX planes, the country's news agency Belga quoted transport minister Francois Bellot as saying.

Britain on Tuesday suspended flights of the 737 MAX aircraft over its territory. "We have, as a precautionary measure, issued instructions to stop any commercial passenger flights from any operator arriving, departing or overflying UK airspace," a spokesperson said in a statement.

France's DGAC civil aviation authority on Tuesday banned Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from French airspace.

German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer told German broadcaster n-tv on Tuesday that German airspace was closed for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft.

India will ground Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft immediately, the ministry of civil aviation said late on Tuesday.

The Irish Aviation Authority is temporarily suspending the operation of all variants of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in Irish airspace with immediate effect.

Italy will close its airspace to Boeing 737 Max 8 airliners from Tuesday night.

Netherlands has ordered its airspace closed for Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, press agency ANP reported, citing the country's transportation minister.

Norway closed its airspace to all Boeing 737 Max 8 planes, the head of its civil aviation authority, Lars Kobberstad, told NRK public radio.

Poland closed its airspace to Boeing 737 Max 8 airliners from Tuesday evening and grounded its own fleet of the planes.

S. Korea is conducting an emergency inspection on Eastar Jet's two MAX 8 jets, a ministry official said. The S. Korean budget carrier would temporarily ground its two 737 MAX 8s from Wednesday, an airline spokesman said on Tuesday.

Turkey's Transport Ministry has suspended all flights by Boeing 737 Max 8 and Max 9 models, state-owned news agency Anadolu said.

UAE General Civil Aviation Authority has banned the operation of Boeing 737 MAX models as a precautionary measure, Emirates News Agency said.

Vietnam state media reported the Civil Aviation Authority Of Vietnam (CAAV) will not issue licenses to local airlines to operate the 737 MAX until the cause of the Ethiopian crash is determined.

Bermuda has prohibited Boeing's 737 MAX 8 and 737 MAX 9 aircraft from its airspace until further notice.

(CGTN)