Just in: 2 Nigerians, 35 Kenyans, 123 from 33 other nations dead in Ethiopian crash
A Nigerian top professional (professor and writer, Pius Adesanmi), 35 Kenyans and 124 persons from 33 other countries of the world, earlier Sunday morning died on board an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed.
17 Canadians, eight Americans and seven British nationals were among the passengers. The second Nigerian was Ambassador Abiodun Bashua, a former Joint Special Representative for the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur, Sudan.
The crash happened at 08:44 local time, six minutes after the months-old Boeing 737 Max-8 took off.
The barely four months old Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 plane on a routine flight to Nairobi, Kenya from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, crashed shortly after takeoff on flight ET 302 at Bishoftu forest region.
Sketchy Details of the dead showed that 149 passengers and eight crew members on board the airline.
Emergency officials have retrieved the wreckage of the plane and confirmed the deaths.
The Boeing 737 MAX8 was brand new had been delivered just four months ago.
There are no survivors at this time. The cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted, saying “deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones”.
Already, the Ethiopian Prime Minister was the first to suggest a large casualty from the crash as the message on government’s Twitter handle read in parts: “The Office of the PM, on behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia, would like to express its 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”.
Shortly after the new broke, a Nigeria posted on his Fecebook page (name with held), saying “Oh my God my friend came to Canada with same Ethiopian airline three days ago, from Addis Ababa to Toronto. He told me that they lost pressure midair and was such a scary thing; I almost freaked out waiting for them. Here, it happened that they had to go back to Addis Ababa before they picked another flight for them be airlifted to Torornto Canada”.
Business Hilights recalls that before now, Ethiopian Airline remains the largest and safest airline in Africa.
Pilot had reported difficulties immediately on takeoff and was directed to return before it crashed six minutes after takeoff. Clearance of wreckages onsite is still ongoing.
…More details later
