Chinese authority stops certifying airworthiness of Boeing 737 MAX 8s

China's civil aviation regulator has temporarily stopped issuing airworthiness certificates for Boeing 737 Max 8s because of safety concerns, a move an expert said will bring huge economic losses to Boeing.

Two Boeing 737 MAX 8s have crashed in the last five months. All 157 passengers and crew members of a 737 MAX 8 operated by Ethiopian Airlines died on Mar 10, including eight Chinese nationals. In October, the same model of plane, operated by Lion Air, went down over the Java Sea, killing 189.

"Considering that the aircraft faces uncertainties in its airworthiness, after looking into the matter, the administration decided to suspend Boeing 737 MAX 8 airworthiness certifications immediately," the Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a statement unveiled on Tuesday, adding that the ongoing investigation had not ruled out design flaws in the aircraft.