An Ethiopian Airlines plane has crashed on its way to Nairobi, Kenya carrying 149 passengers and eight crew people on board.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8 was on a regular scheduled flight when it crashed six minutes after taking off from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Flight ET 302 crashed near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, the airline confirmed a search and rescue operations are in progress.
In a statement Ethiopian Airlines said, “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.”
The airline posted on Twitter:
Accident Bulletin no. 1
Issued on march 10, 2019 at 11:00am
Ethiopian Airlines will release further information as soon as it is available. Updated information will also be on Ethiopian Airlines website at https://t.co/Je7pXoKxHh pic.twitter.com/07wKZHPVPl— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 10, 2019
The office of the prime minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed posted on Twitter:
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 regular scheduled flight to Nairobi, Kenya this morning.
— Office of the Prime Minister – Ethiopia (@PMEthiopia) March 10, 2019
Air traffic control at Addis Ababa airport, lost contact with flight ET 302 at 8:44am this morning.
Ethiopian Airlines is the largest carrier in Africa with a good safety record and is a Star Alliance member, the airline is government owned.
Most of the Ethiopian’s aircraft are new, the Boeing 737 is brand new and took its first flight end of October 2018.
In 2010 an Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed in to the Mediterranean Sea shortly after taking off from Beirut International Airport in Lebanon, killing 90 people.
In November 1996 the airline crashed during a hijacking, on a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi after an engine stopped when the fuel ran out.
The hijacked plane attempted an emergency landing on water, the plane hit a coral reef in the Indian Ocean and 123 of the 175 passengers were killed.
Below are phone numbers for information
Airport emergency hotline
011 5 17 87 33
0115 17 47 35For all information necessary
011 5 17 89 45
011 5 17 89 87
011 5 17 82 31
011 5 17 85 58— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) March 10, 2019
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