An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa in Ethiopia yesterday (10 March) killing all 149 passengers and eight crew members on board.
The airline said flight ET302 was heading on a route from the Ethiopian capital to Nairobi in Kenya and 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, eight Americans and seven British nationals were among the passengers.
The carrier only received the 737 Max 8 on 15 November and it is the second of the variant to crash after a Lion Air Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed in Indonesia at the end of October killing 189.
The airline said: “Ethiopian Airlines regrets to confirm that its flight ET 302/10 March in schedule service from Addis Ababa to Nairobi was involved in an accident today around Bishoftu (Debre Zeit).
“The aircraft B-737-800Max with registration number ET- AVJ took off at 08:38 am local time from Addis Ababa, Bole International Airport and lost contact at 08:44am. At this time search and rescue operations are in progress and we have no confirmed information about survivors or any possible causalities. Ethiopian Airlines staff will be sent to the accident scene and will do everything possible to assist the emergency services.
“It is believed that there were 149 passengers and 8 crew onboard the flight but we are currently confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight.
“Ethiopian Airlines is establishing a passenger information center and telephone number will be available shortly for family or friends of those who may have been on flight ET 302/10 March.”
(Picture credit: AAP)
