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New Orleans passengers react to 737 MAX 8 plane concerns

"They're going to be double, triple, quadruple checking everything on it," one passenger said.

KENNER, La. — It was business as usual Tuesday at Armstrong International Airpot (MSY), where hundreds of passengers waited for their bags after safe landings.

News about the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane that killed all 157 people on board just minutes after takeoff this weekend was on the front of some travelers minds, however.

Rick Leggett was one of those thinking about it.

"140, 180 people at one times, that's always sad, no question about it," Leggett said.

RELATED: More airlines, countries ground Boeing jet involved in Ethiopia crash

But Leggett said a Boeing MAX 8, the plane that went down, is probably the safest aircraft to fly right now.

"They're going to be double, triple, quadruple checking everything on it," Leggett said.

There are serious concerns after the second MAX 8 crash in fewer than five months. Before this weekend, the last happened in October when a Lion Air flight went down.

RELATED: Pilots have reported issues in US with new Boeing jet on at least two flights

Now, the UK, France and Germany have joined at least 10 other countries in grounding in MAX 8s, a stark contrast to the Federal Aviation Administration's continued confidence in the model here in the United States.

Southwest, United and American are three of the airlines that have the most MAX 8s in their fleet. All of those airlines fly in and out of New Orleans.

Given the rarity of deadly airplane crashes, however, the news about the Ethiopian Airlines crash didn't bother travelers like Kimberly Williams.

RELATED: FAA arrives at Ethiopian Boeing 737 MAX 8 crash site

"How many airplanes take off every day? You know, people get on planes every day. And nothing. And nothing happens," Williams said. 

The Baton Rouge resident said she traveled from Los Angeles to New Orleans on Tuesday and didn't feel unsafe for a second.

RELATED: Boeing 737 Max 8: What to know about the plane that crashed in Ethiopia

Leggett said he looks at the numbers and he's more than comfortable in the air.

"I go by statistics. I'm safer in that airplane than I am walking across right here at baggage claim to get hit by somebody trying to find their loved one because they're late getting to the airport," Leggett said.

RELATED: Ethiopia mourns crash victims as plane's 'black box' found

When he hops back on a plane in the coming days to head back home to Orlando, Leggett said he has a surprising wish.

"I hope I'm on a Max 8 or 9," Leggett said. 

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