China grounds 737-MAX jetliners, ramping up pressure on Boeing

China has grounded all 737-8 MAX jets flown by the country’s airlines, ramping up pressure on Boeing Co. after the second crash of one its most widely flown models in less than six months.

Since the jets flow by Ethiopian Airlines and Lion Air both crashed during the “take-off phase,” the incidents have surface similarities that warrant further investigation before the planes can return to service, China’s Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement late Sunday evening, Washington time.