• Monday marked a day of mourning
• World leaders convey condolences to families of the victims
ADDIS ABABA- An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max-8 aircraft crashed on Sunday shortly after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing all 149 passengers and eight crew members that were on flight to Nairobi, Kenya.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives declared Monday a national day of mourning over the loss of life in the tragic accident involving Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 and world leaders have conveyed their profound condolences to families of the victims and people of Ethiopia.
In a press conference he held with reporters, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Tewolde GebreMariam said that the crash happened at 08:44 local time, six minutes after the months-old aircraft took off. The airplane ploughed into a field near Tulu Fara village outside the town of Bishoftu, some 60km southeast of the Ethiopian capital.
Noting recovery operations are underway near the crash site, Tewolde stated that the cause of the disaster is not yet clear. “At this stage, we cannot rule out anything,” he said, adding that “We cannot also attribute the cause to anything because we will have to comply with the international regulation to wait for the investigation.” The CEO pointed out that the plane was delivered to Ethiopian Airlines on 15 November last year and it underwent a rigorous first check maintenance on 4 February.
It was stated that the pilot is a Senior Capitan named Yared Mulugeta who had a “commendable performance” with more than 8,000 hours in the air and the plane’s First Officer Mohammod Nur Ahmed Nur had more than 200 flight hours.
About the victims, the CEO indicated that passengers from more than 30 countries were on board in the ill-fated aircraft. He said 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, nine Ethiopians, eight Italians, eight Chinese, eight Americans, seven Britons, seven French citizens, six Egyptians, five Germans, four Indians and four people from Slovakia lost their lives by the accident.
Three Austrians, three Swedes, three Russians, two Moroccans, two Spaniards, two Poles and two Israelis were also on the flight. There was also one passenger each from Ireland, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Belgium, Indonesia, Somalia, Norway, Serbia, Togo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen. One person held a UN passport, the CEO indicated. It believed some passengers could have been heading to a session of the UN Environment Assembly which scheduled to begin yesterday.
Furthermore, World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley said seven members of agency staff had died in the crash. Following the accident, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those that have lost their loved ones due to the accident.
By the same token, world leaders have expressed condolences to bereaved families whose beloved ones perished on board. Accordingly, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta offered prayers for the family members and loved ones of those on the flight.
“We are saddened by the news of an Ethiopian Airlines passenger aircraft that is reported to have crashed six minutes after takeoff in route to Kenya. My prayers go to all the families and associates of those on board,” Kenyatta said on Twitter. Djibouti’s President Ismail Omar Guelleh expressed his condolence following Sunday’s tragic plane crash and expressed his country’s solidarity with the people and government of Ethiopia.
The government of Eritrea has conveyed message of condolences to the Government of Ethiopia and to the bereaved families of the deceased on the tragic crash. Somalia expressed its sincere condolences to the Government and to the people of Ethiopia following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines flight number ET 302. Nigerian President Muhammad Buhari extended his sincere condolences to Ethiopia, and to all the countries that lost citizens.
African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “utter shock and immense sadness” while Executive Secretary of the East African bloc IGAD Mahboub Maalim, said the region was in mourning. António Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, tweeted about the crash.
“Deeply saddened by the news the plane crash in Ethiopia, claiming the lives of all on board. My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims including our own UN staff who perished in this tragedy.” Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolence and heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones.
“I am fully convinced that the Ethiopian Government will efficiently and effectively conduct follow-up work in the aftermath of the accident.” The president affirmed China’s readiness to provide necessary support and assistance.
Amina Jane Mohammed, UN’s Deputy Secretary-General, also expressed her deepest condolences about the “devastating loss.” “The spirit of Africa will keep on soaring,” she said. French President Emmanuel Macron also sent his condolences. He said that France, which lost seven citizens by accident, share the sorrow and stands by the people of Ethiopia and Kenya, and expressed its full solidarity.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the crash, adding: “We join the international community in mourning the loss of so many lives.” UK Premier Theresa May tweeted her condolences: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the devastating loss of life following the plane crash in Ethiopia. At this very difficult time my thoughts are with the families and friends of the British citizens on board and all those affected by this tragic incident.”
Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman Martina Fietz said on Twitter that the German chancellor expressed her “deeply felt condolences and sympathy for the relatives of the victims.” Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani send condolence to Ethiopia’s President Sahle-Work Zewde and Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed to express their sympathy to victims of the crash. Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman also sent a cable of condolence to Ethiopia’s President and expressed his sincere sympathy to the President, victims and the people of Ethiopia.
Herald March 12/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
