Star Alliance carrier Ethiopian Airlines is reporting a fatal accident and crash. The jet is a brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 – delivered to the airline just four months ago. The plane vanished from radar 6 minutes after take off from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.
The airline issued this press-statement:
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).
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.
It is believed that there were 149 passengers and 8 crew onboard the flight but we are currently confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight.
Ethiopian Airlines is establishing a passenger information center and telephone number will be available shortly for family or friends of those who may have been on flight ET 302/10 March.
Ethiopian Airlines will release further information as soon as it is available
