Countries such as the UK and Australia have grounded Boeing 737 Max 8 planes or are banning it from their airspace, threatening to disrupt global travel and forcing airlines to adjust their operations. The decisions isolate the US regulator that has reiterated its support for the jet.
Boeing's biggest crisis since the issue with its 787 Dreamliner battery has weighed on the company stock price, which extended to a one-week loss. Shares of the US plane maker plunged about 6 per cent on Tuesday.
Boeing's chief executive Dennis Muilenburg, in a call with US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, defended the aircraft's safety and assured him it did not need to be grounded, according to reports by Reuters and Bloomberg.
The US remains an outlier in supporting the embattled aircraft, prompting a group of US officials to question the Federal Aviation Authority's decision to support Boeing's jet.
The plane maker said that since the FAA is not mandating further action, it does not plan to issue new guidance to operators based on information available.
The UAE, Lebanon, European Union and India are the latest in a growing list of more than 40 countries to block Boeing's best-selling plane from their airspace. The countries opted for caution after the second deadly accident involving the jet in five months, as investigators probe why an Ethiopian Airlines' 737 plane crashed minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa on Sunday. Other countries including Hong Kong, Turkey, Thailand also grounded their 737 Max jets on Wednesday.
"We understand that regulatory agencies and customers have made decisions that they believe are most appropriate for their home markets," Boeing said in a statement on Tuesday. "We’ll continue to engage with them to ensure they have the information needed to have confidence in operating their fleets."
The UAE's aviation regulator said on Tuesday it will ban the 737 Max 8 from the country's airspace on Wednesday past midnight, until further notice.
"The ban is a precautionary measure aimed toward protecting public safety in the air and on the ground," the General Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement. "The GCAA will continue monitoring and re-assessing the situation as more information is obtained about the accident."
The decision bans the jet from a global air travel hub and popular transit point for long-haul passengers, including Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest hub by international travelers.
Low-cost airline flydubai, the UAE's sole operator of the 737 Max 8 and the manufacturer's second-biggest customer after Southwest Airlines, grounded its fleet of 11 737 Max 8 and two of the larger variant 737 Max 9 following the directive.
The airline will adjust by operating its 737-800 jets, the predecessor of the 737 Max, instead and will cancel up to 15 flights a day, with frequencies reduced on destinations including Amman, Beirut, Baghdad and Kuwait among others.
"Flydubai is adjusting its schedule to minimise disruption to passengers," it said. "Where there are flight cancellations flydubai will contact passengers directly. Flydubai continues to be in touch with the manufacturer and regulator."
While airlines are adjusting their operations, Boeing may face claims for compensation from those affected by the groundings of the 737 Max.
Norwegian Air, which suspended operations of the 18 narrow-body 737 Max in its fleet, will seek compensation from the jet maker for lost revenue and extra costs, reported Reuters.
Global groundings of the jet come amid an intensifying crisis of confidence in the aircraft that was also involved in Indonesia's Lion Air crash in October, which remains under investigation.
Pilots in the US complained at least five times in recent months about problems controlling their 737 Max 8 planes during critical moments of flight, federal records show, Politico reported.
Some of the incidents appear to involve the same anti-stall system that could be the potential cause of Lion Air's crash, according to Politico's review of a FAA incident database where pilots directly report issues.
The crash of Nairobi-bound Ethiopian Airlines' 737 Max 8 killed all 157 travellers on-board, highlighting similarities with the Lion Air disaster and raising fresh questions about the safety of the plane model.
Investigators in Ethiopia found two black box recorders that will provide information about what happened before the plane plunged into farmland minutes after take-off from Addis Ababa.
Ethiopia will send the black box from the Boeing jet to Europe for analysis, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing an interview with Ethiopian Airlines chief executive Tewolde GebreMariam. It is considering UK, French and German agencies as well as EU Aviation Safety Agency.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
'Project Power'
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback
Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Rating: 3.5/5
Race 3
Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars
The Dictionary of Animal Languages
Heidi Sopinka
Scribe
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THE SPECS
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Transmission: six-speed manual
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000