An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet, flight number ET 302 has crashed on a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Ethiopian Airlines confirmed. 149 passengers and 8 crew are believed to have been on board the flight, and are feared dead.
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet, flight number ET 302 has crashed on a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Ethiopian Airlines confirmed. It is believed that there were 149 passengers and 8 crew on board, and the airline says it is confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight.
A statement from the airline reads: “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)”.
According to the statement, 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,” the airline said.
The airline’s Group CEO Tewolde Gebremariam has confirmed that “there are no survivors”. He expressed his profound sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of passengers and crew who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
There were 33 different nationalities on board.
Last year, Ethiopian Airlines celebrated the delivery of the first of 30 737 MAX jets from Boeing, an aircraft famed for its fuel efficiency. In Ethiopian’s configuration, its 737 MAX 8 seats 160 passengers.
Commenting on the accident Boeing said it “is closely monitoring the situation”. In a statement Boeing wrote: we are “deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a 737 MAX 8 airplane. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team. A Boeing technical team is prepared to provide technical assistance at the request and under the direction of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board”.
