On March 10th, Africa’s skies received a dark moment when passengers aboard Ethiopian Airline flight number ET 302 perished just six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa Airport enroute to Nairobi leaving atleast 149 passengers and 8 crew members dead.
It is alleged that the B-737 – 800 MAX aircraft had just returned from Johannesburg, South Africa early in the morning and connected shortly to Nairobi only to lose connection with Air traffic control shortly after escalating from Addis Ababa just six minutes away east of the airport.
Ethiopian Airlines Group, says the B-737 – 800 MAX had undergone thorough first check maintenance on February 4th as the cause to the incident is yet to be identified as forensic investigations have already commenced.
The deceased passengers were of thirty five nationalities according to passenger details recorded earlier by the airlines and among these included; 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, 9 Ethiopians, 8 Chinese, 8 Italian, 8 American, 7 France, 7 British, 6 Egyptian, 5 Dutch, 4 UN passport, 4 Indians, 3 Russian, 2 Moroccan, 2 Israeli, 1 Belgian, 1 Ugandan, 1 Sudanese, 1 Togo, 1 Mozambican and 1 Norwegian.
Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam, who traveled immediately to the area just east of Addis Ababa airport where the incident happened lamented: ‘’It is too early to speculate the cause of the accident and further investigations will be carried out to find out the cause of the accident in collaboration with stakeholders including the aircraft manufacture Boeing, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, and other international entities to maintain the international standard and information will be provided once the cause is identified. Ethiopian Airlines will provide all the necessary support to the families of the victims’’.
Ethiopian Airlines senior captain on duty Yared Getachew who was commanding the flight together with first officer Ahmed Nur Mohammod had earlier reported on a radio call and asked for a return to the airport shortly after noticing difficulties with the aircraft before it suddenly crashed and exploded causing a fire hence killing passengers.
This is the second air tragic incident to happen involving Boeing shortly just six months since October last year when the new B- 787- 800 MAX in Indonesia crashed as Lion Air pilots failed to disengage the auto pilot when faulty readings engaged the nose down safety system, yesterday’s accident is recorded second in less than 2 years.
Humanitarian agencies like the United Nations are still in grief for loss of their beloved staff.
Kenyan Transport Secretary, James Macharia said in a press briefing that: ‘’There were atleast 35 nationalities and regrettably, Kenya has the highest number that was lost with 32 passengers onboard. We are yet to confirm feet of those passengers and that’s why we are sending officials to Ethiopia to be able to coordinate the sourcing of information in a better version’’
Fallen Aircraft Manufacture, Boeing also took to their twitter and posted ‘’Boeing is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of 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 onboard 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’’.
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