The Boeing 737 MAX 8, the US’ best selling aircraft model used for travel, crashed in Ethiopia on March 10th, killing everyone on board. “Although this plane crash is definitely tragic, what is most concerning is that the crash was with the most popular airplane,” says Sophomore Jenna Ettman.

The flight ET302 was heading to Nairobi from Addis Ababa but only 6 minutes after takeoff, the plane crashed, resulting in the death of 157 passengers, 7 crew members and one security official being. Recordings were found of a pilot on the flight, saying that they were having flight control issues and were preparing to turn around and return to the Addis Ababa airport, minutes before the crash.

This diverse group of passengers included people from 35 different nations. The plane crashed around 2 hours from the departing location, Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The distant area is an important grassland to Ethiopia, filled with teff and maze fields, however, no electricity or water.

Following this crash, the UK banned flights using the Boeing 737 MAX 8 along with China, Australia, Germany and France grounding flights with that aircrafts, earlier than their supposed destination. Specifically, in China, 288 flights that were supposed to be flown by 737 MAX 8’s were flown by different aircrafts and 145 were delayed parented with 62 total cancellations of flights with the 737 Max 8. In total, over 24 airlines around the world have grounded flights with the aircraft. However, the United States is not one of these countries.

Bipartisan calls were made to the Trump administration to suspend flights using the Boeing 737 Max 8 but they resisted, even as a phone called was made to President Trump by the besieged company’s CEO.

“The United States needs to ground the Boeing 737 MAX 8 immediately. It is so scary to think that a person could still be injured because of this plane,” remarked Sophomore Kirsten Stepien.

The reasoning behind the sudden crash remains unknown but is undergoing various investigations. “An FAA team is on-site with the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation of Ethiopia Flight 302,” the FAA said in a statement. “We are collecting data and keeping in contact with international civil aviation authorities as information becomes available.” Different teams and crews are on site of the crash collecting debris from the plane as well.