11 MAR 2019: An Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed shortly after take-off from Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday morning, killing all 157 people thought to be on board, the airline and state broadcaster said, as anxious families rushed to airports in Addis Ababa and the destination, Nairobi. Eighteen Canadians were on board.
It was not immediately clear what caused the crash of the Boeing 737-8 MAX plane, which had been delivered to the airline in November, records show.
The state-owned Ethiopian Airlines, widely considered the best-managed airline in Africa, calls itself Africa’s largest carrier and has ambitions of becoming the gateway to the continent.
Its statement said 149 passengers and eight crew members were thought to be on the plane that crashed six minutes after departing Addis Ababa on its way to Kenya’s capital. The crash occurred around Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, some 50 kilometres (31 miles) south of Addis Ababa, at 8:44 a.m.
The plane showed unstable vertical speed after takeoff, air traffic monitor Flightradar 24 said in a Twitter post. Visibility appeared to be clear.
A statement by the Ethiopian prime minister’s office offered its “deepest condolences” to families.
Kenya’s transport minister, James Macharia, told reporters that authorities had not yet received the passenger manifest. He said an emergency response had been set up for family and friends.
“My prayers go to all the families and associates of those on board,” Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta said.
Ethiopia’s prime minister has visited the site of an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people thought to be on board.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office says he expressed his “profound sadness” and ordered a full investigation and “all required support” to the families of the dead.
Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives declared Monday a national day of mourning.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office says the cause of the crash will be “communicated promptly to the public as updates come in.”
Canadians on board
Ethiopian Airlines issued a list showing 35 nationalities among the dead, including the 18 Canadians.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the news devastating and said his thoughts are with all the victims and everyone who lost friends, family or loved ones.
Friends and relatives of Canadian citizens believed to be on board can contact Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre by calling 613-996-8885 or 1-800-387-3124, or by sending an email to sos@international.gc.ca. Canadian citizens in Ethiopia requiring consular assistance should contact the Canadian Embassy in Addis Ababa at 251(0)11 317 0000 or call (collect) the Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre at 1-613-996-8885.
The United Nations
The United Nations migration agency says the UN and its agencies on Monday will fly flags at half-staff after early indications show 19 employees of UN-affiliated organizations died in the Ethiopian Airlines crash.
A statement says the organizations include World Bank, International Telecommunications Union, the UN Environment Program and others.