Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX involved in fatal crash
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX has been involved in a fatal crash whilst operating ET302 from Addis Ababa.
The Office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister released a statement not long ago with the following message:
“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.”
The aircraft involved was a four month old Boeing 737 MAX 8 registered ET-AVJ, which vanished from radar screens just six minutes after departing Addis Ababa. Ethiopian lists 149 passengers and eight crew members were onboard at the time.
First photo of the crash site with the CEO of the airline inspecting the site (something that has sparked controversy):
Flightradar24 captured the last moments of the aircraft before it disappeared:
We are following reports that Ethiopian Airlines flight #ET302 to Nairobi has crashed after take off from Addis Ababa.
Our coverage in the area is limited. We tracked the flight for about 3 minutes after take off.https://t.co/MtmnQk9sn4 pic.twitter.com/q7sCfmiCOd
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 10, 2019
After processing the data, Flightradar24 determined vertical speed was unstable during takeoff:
Additional data from Flightradar24 ADS-B network show that vertical speed was unstable after take off.
Take off 05:38:18 UTC
Last position received by FR24 at 05:41:02 UTCPlease note that Addis Ababa airport is located at 7,625 feet AMSL. pic.twitter.com/Uyvfp1x9Xb
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 10, 2019
In a message from the airline on their website, the aircraft is suspected to be located around Bishoftu (Debre Zeit).
Rescue efforts currently underway. A passenger information center and telephone number will be set up very shortly for family and friends of those who may have been on the flight.
In a press conference, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines stated pilots contacted air traffic control requesting a return to the airport following difficulties with the aircraft.
UPDATE: Boeing is aware of the accident and is looking into it:
Boeing is aware of reports of an airplane accident and is closely monitoring the situation.
— Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) March 10, 2019
UPDATE 2: State television is broadcasting zero survivors.
UPDATE 3: Full statement from Boeing:
UPDATE 4:
Who are the victims?
Mr Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, told the news conference that passengers from more than 30 countries were on board the flight.
He said they included 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.
Slovak MP Anton Hrnko later confirmed via Facebook that his wife and two children were on the plane.
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 Belgium, Indonesia, Somalia, Norway, Serbia, Togo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen.
Four people held United Nations passports, the airline said, and it believed some passengers could have been heading to a session of the UN Environment Assembly which begins in Nairobi on Monday.
A UN source also told Agence France-Presse that “at least a dozen of the victims were affiliated with the UN”, and that this may include freelance translators.
The pilot was named as Senior Captain Yared Getachew who had a “commendable performance” with more than 8,000 hours in the air, the airline said.
The plane’s First Officer Ahmed Nur Mohammod Nur had 200 flight hours, it added.
Accident Bulletin no. 3
Issued on March 10, 2019 at 4:59 PM pic.twitter.com/5UOxsbl24f— Ethiopian Airlines (@flyethiopian) 10 March 2019
UPDATE 5:
Talking at a press conference, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines mentioned the aircraft was brand new (as already established) and had a perfect safety record. It had accumulated around 1200 hours with no maintenance faults detected with the aircraft being “well-maintained”.
This is a developing story. Check back later for more information as it becomes available.
This fault is a must on the engineer, they should take a look deeply before the flight. Vertical speed indicator error could be the reason
OMG, So sad to know about it, I just read the article today, 🙁
Repeatedly, model Simulation tests ought to be carried out again and again and again!
This is so sad 😭 RIP
this looks bad on Boeing. I hope Boeing isnt going to blame this airline on poor training or something like what they implied with Lion Air.
Pilot error no doubt
Lets wait and find out before we come to conclusions.
I wouldn’t fly on a Boeing 737 MAX.
The fleet should be grounded.
One fatal accident, a tragedy.
Two accidents and over 300 dead – inexcusable.
Sam Chui, would you fly on a Boeing 737 MAX?
I think it’s about time engineers do something. They must test electronic components thoroughly. And guideline quardcopter to be mounted on sides of plane to guide plane during emergency. And emergency paratude if the situation gets worse.
Yeah they seriously have to check what’s going on with the 737 MAX 8….
Tragic of course, and of immense concern that two brand new 737MAX have crashed so close together and both under seemingly similar circumstances – control issues shortly after take off. What is even stranger is that the only photo of the crash site is of a very odd looking excavation crater with hardly any aircraft debris – something does not look right about this scene.
All 737 Max planes should immediately be grounded until this issue is identified and corrected. These accidents are absolutely unacceptable. There’s obviously an issue with this new model.
Horrible disaster in Ethiopia. Circumstances very similar to the LionAir crash with the same brand new 737 8-MAX and data points to the same serious autopilot envelope protection malfunction. These planes must all be grounded!!!!!!!!!!
Boeing has to seriously look into the class of Max. Why repeatedly this aircrafts are crashing soon after take off?
After observing closely of this accident prevuous accidentnof B737-8 Max is clearly indicating that some vertical speed indicator error might have occurred and both aircrafts crashed in less than 10mins after takeoff. Boeing has to work closely in these instrumental errors.
Ethiopian Airlines Crash: Pilot, Crew Members list, 149 Passengers Died
Second crash of 737 Max-8. Both brand new aircraft and just few months old from delivery. And both were crash less than 15 minutes after take off. I though Boeing has this model fixed after the first crash, Lion Air flight 610.
This is the 2nd crash of 737 MAX 8…. I hope 737 MAX 8 won’t crash again for the future
a year….
Oh no! This is the second Boeing 737 Max crash