#Ethiopianairline: 157 travellers feared killed as Ethiopian airline crashes in Bishoftu

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Not less than 157 people aboard an Ethiopian Airline, are feared to have been killed following reports that  the aircraft B-737-800MAX with registration number ET-AVJ crashed few minutes after take off.

The plane which took as Flight ET302 from Addis Ababa at  08:38 enroute Kenya disappeared from the radar few minutes after take off at 08:44 am.  There are 149 passengers on board with 8 crew members, the airline has said and that that there were 33 different nationalities on board.

The cause of the accident is not yet known even as Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed has expressed  deepest condolences for families of those involved in the crash.

“The Office of the PM, on behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia, would like to express it’s 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”, the PM said on twitter.

In a statement confirming the incident, the airline said, “Ethiopian Airline regrets to confirm that its flight, ET302/10 March in scheduled 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 08:38 from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and lost contact at 08:44 am. At this time, search and rescue are in operation, we have no confirmed information about survivors or casualties”, it said, adding that staff of the airline will be sent to the scene of the accident to assist in the operation.

It also confirmed that there are 149 passengers on board with 8 crew members.