Ethiopian Airlines Crash: Officials Say, Too Early To Know Cause Of Accident

…Airline to give necessary support to victims’ families

Shortly after the crash of the Ethiopian Airline flight number ET 302 which took place this morning after take-off en route to Nairobi from Addis Ababa, the airline officials led by the Group CEO, Mr. Tewolde Gabrielmariam, traveled to the scene of the crash.

The Group CEO who spoke at a press conference held at Ethiopian Airlines Headquarters this afternoon regarding the plane crash, said that, “it is too early to speculate the cause of the accident. He said further that, a detailed investigation will be carried out to find out the cause of the accident in collaboration with all stakeholders including the aircraft manufacturer Boeing, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and other international entities to maintain the international standard, while information will be provided once the cause is identified. Ethiopian Airlines will provide all the necessary support to the families of the victims.”

The Group CEO also informed all present that “a senior captain named Yared Getachew with a cumulative flight hour of more than 8000 and with a commendable performance was commanding the flight along with first officer Ahmed Nur Mohammod Nur who had a flight hour of 200. 149 passengers and 8 crew members were on board the flight. The victims were of 35 Nationalities. The crashed B-737-800MAX airplane flew back to Addis from Johannesburg this morning to its yet another flight bound to Nairobi.”

The Group CEO added that the aircraft had undergone rigorous first check maintenance in February 04, 2019.

“Ethiopian Airlines Group expresses its profound sorrow and deepest condolences to the families of the victims and their loved ones on the tragic plane accident. Ethiopian Airlines will release further information as soon as it is available. Updated information will also be on Ethiopian Airlines website at www.ethiopianairlines.com,” he added.

Below is the list of nationals on the ill-fated flight, as released by the airline. 

Information made available to us also states that, Professor Pius Adesanmi was carrying a Canadian Passport. The other Nigerian has a UN Passport. A high profile Nigerian, Amb. Abiodun Bashua was in the plane too. He served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was the former UN and AU Deputy Joint Special Representative in Darfur, Sudan.