the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 people on board. [Source: Daily Express]

Fiji Airways says it has full confidence in the airworthiness of its Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes.

The comment comes after the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash that killed 157 people on board.

The Ethiopian Airlines incident is the second time in less than six months that a new Boeing 737 MAX 8 has crashed just minutes after takeoff.

A Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight went down over the Java Sea last October, killing all 189 on board.

Fiji Airways Spokesperson Shane Hussein, says they are saddened to hear of the tragic accident involving Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and are closely following the situation.

He assured that Fiji Airways follows a comprehensive induction process for its new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Hussein says the airline guarantees that its maintenance and training programme for pilots and engineers meet the highest safety standards and that the safety of its passengers and crew always will be the top priority.

Meanwhile, China’s aviation regulator has ordered local airlines to halt Boeing 737 Max 8 flights at the present time.