Iraq bans Boeing 737 MAX aircraft from its airspace

Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq on Wednesday banned U.S. planemaker Boeing Co's 737 MAX aircraft from entering or transiting its airspace, a statement from the civil aviation authority said.

It said the decision was based on air safety concerns.

The move comes after a 737 MAX crashed in Ethiopia on Sunday killing 157 people. Another disaster involving a 737 MAX in Indonesia five months ago killed 189 people.

(Reporting by John Davison, Ahmed Aboulenein; Editing by Catherine Evans)