“The Office of the PM, on behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia, would like to express it’s deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones on Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 on a regularly scheduled flight to Nairobi, Kenya this morning.”
The plane, a Boeing 737-800MAX with flight number ET 302, is a regular flight schedule between Nairobi and Addis Ababa. The ‘plane B-737-800MAX with registration number ET- AVJ took off at 08:38 am a local time from Addis Ababa, Bole International Airport and lost contact at 08:44 am’. The Ethiopian Airlines office posted the message regretting the accident.
“Ethiopian Airlines regrets to confirm that its flight ET302/10 March in schedule service from Addis Ababa to Nairobi was involved in an accident today at around Bishoftu (Debre Zeit). The aircraft B_737-800NAX with registration number ET-AVJ took off at 08:38 am local time from Addis Ababa, Bole International Airport and lost contact lost contact at 08:44 am.”
The airline in a statement said they search for the passengers will start soon, but the news later confirms that the fire was so strong and that prevented rescuers from reaching the scene.
“At this time search and rescue operation are in progress, and we have no confirmed information about survivor 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 about 149 passengers and 8 crew. The airline has now confirmed in a message reported by BBC that all passengers are confirmed dead. The nationalities of these people are yet to be confirmed. South Sudanese, Kenyans and Ethiopia are the most users of the plane, but these countries are however to confirm. Earlier, the airline reported that:
“It is believed that there were 149 passengers and 8 crew onboard the flight but we were 149 passengers and 8 crew and onboard the flight, but we are currently confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight”.
East African countries, expressed their condolences to the families of those who lost lives. Check our website for more updates.
