MAX jet, originally designated for delivery to a Chinese airline, was en route back to the United States on Monday, Reuters reported, citing flight tracking data. The plane's return may be another sign of rising trade tensions between Washington and Beijing.

A Boeing 737 Max, which was set to be added to the Xiamen Airlines fleet, returned to Boeing’s Seattle airbase after high tariffs of US imports into China prompted the higher costs of purchasing the $55 million aircraft.