Samoa Airways still trying to hire a plane

Samoa Airways is still trying to lease an aircraft from the United States after the Boeing Max 9 plane it agreed to hire was grounded.

The entire fleet of Boeing Max jets has been grounded world-wide after two of the planes crashed in separate incidents earlier this year.

There's no indication of when the fleet will be allowed to fly again, as Boeing waits for regulators to approve new flight control software.

Samoa's public enterprises minister said the small national carrier is looking to hire a Boeing 737-800 from a US company, or to extend the lease on the 737 it's currently operating.

Lautafi Selafi Purcell said Samoa Airways will not fly the Boeing Max until it's been cleared by aviation authorities in Australia and New Zealand.