"The control tower was assisting the pilot of the plane on takeoff and
suddenly lost contact for no known reason," Aridi told reporters.
Families of the passengers, some of them weeping, could be seen
huddled at the VIP lounge of Beirut International Airport while awaiting
news of their loved ones.
One woman was sobbing and screaming, "Why, why?"
A government official said there were several children on board the
plane, which crashed about five minutes after takeoff at 2:30 am (1230
GMT).
Witnesses reported seeing a ball of fire as the Boeing 737 plunged into
the sea.
A military official said four bodies had been recovered at the crash site
by early morning.
Sleiman said authorities had ruled out terrorism or sabotage as the cause
of the crash.
"Up until now we have ruled out foul play," Sleiman told reporters.
"This is a painful tragic event. We are sparing no efforts in trying to
find survivors," he added.
"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of those on board."
The accident took place amid heavy rains and storms in Lebanon in the
past two days that have caused heavy flooding and damage in some
parts of the country.
Officials listed 83 passengers and seven crew members as having been
on board the flight.
Aridi said the passengers include 54 Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi,
one French woman, one Syrian and seven crew members. There were
also several dual nationals including two British-Lebanese, one
Canadian-Lebanese and a Russian-Lebanese.
Thousands of Ethiopians are employed as domestic workers in Lebanon
and Ethiopian Airlines operates a regular flight between Addis Ababa and
Beirut.
Among those on board the flight was Marla Sanchez Pietton, the wife
of France's ambassador to Lebanon, Denis Pietton, the French embassy
told AFP.
Aridi said he had formed an investigative committee to determine the
cause of the crash and had contacted nearby countries to assist in the
search and rescue effort.
The Lebanese army, navy as well as the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) were assisting in the rescue, Aridi added.
"We have contacted everyone, inside and outside the country, that can
assist us and the Lebanese navy, the army and UNIFIL have joined in
the rescue," the minister added.
He said the French organisation responsible for technical investigation
of civil aviation accidents was taking part in the probe.
A government official said Cyprus was assisting in the search and
rescue efforts as were naval vessels from the UN force stationed in
Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Prime Minister Saad Hariri declared Monday a national day of mourning.
The Boeing 737-800, which entered into commercial service in 1998, is
one of the latest versions of the world's most widely used short to
medium-haul airliners, and is capable of carrying up to 189 passengers.
The accident comes just one month after a Panamian-flagged ship
transporting livestock capsized in stormy weather and sank off the
coast of northern Lebanon with around 80 sailors on board.
The majority of the sailors were rescued but 26 were unaccounted for
and presumed dead.
Courtesy
suddenly lost contact for no known reason," Aridi told reporters.
Families of the passengers, some of them weeping, could be seen
huddled at the VIP lounge of Beirut International Airport while awaiting
news of their loved ones.
One woman was sobbing and screaming, "Why, why?"
A government official said there were several children on board the
plane, which crashed about five minutes after takeoff at 2:30 am (1230
GMT).
Witnesses reported seeing a ball of fire as the Boeing 737 plunged into
the sea.
A military official said four bodies had been recovered at the crash site
by early morning.
Sleiman said authorities had ruled out terrorism or sabotage as the cause
of the crash.
"Up until now we have ruled out foul play," Sleiman told reporters.
"This is a painful tragic event. We are sparing no efforts in trying to
find survivors," he added.
"Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of those on board."
The accident took place amid heavy rains and storms in Lebanon in the
past two days that have caused heavy flooding and damage in some
parts of the country.
Officials listed 83 passengers and seven crew members as having been
on board the flight.
Aridi said the passengers include 54 Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi,
one French woman, one Syrian and seven crew members. There were
also several dual nationals including two British-Lebanese, one
Canadian-Lebanese and a Russian-Lebanese.
Thousands of Ethiopians are employed as domestic workers in Lebanon
and Ethiopian Airlines operates a regular flight between Addis Ababa and
Beirut.
Among those on board the flight was Marla Sanchez Pietton, the wife
of France's ambassador to Lebanon, Denis Pietton, the French embassy
told AFP.
Aridi said he had formed an investigative committee to determine the
cause of the crash and had contacted nearby countries to assist in the
search and rescue effort.
The Lebanese army, navy as well as the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) were assisting in the rescue, Aridi added.
"We have contacted everyone, inside and outside the country, that can
assist us and the Lebanese navy, the army and UNIFIL have joined in
the rescue," the minister added.
He said the French organisation responsible for technical investigation
of civil aviation accidents was taking part in the probe.
A government official said Cyprus was assisting in the search and
rescue efforts as were naval vessels from the UN force stationed in
Lebanon (UNIFIL).
Prime Minister Saad Hariri declared Monday a national day of mourning.
The Boeing 737-800, which entered into commercial service in 1998, is
one of the latest versions of the world's most widely used short to
medium-haul airliners, and is capable of carrying up to 189 passengers.
The accident comes just one month after a Panamian-flagged ship
transporting livestock capsized in stormy weather and sank off the
coast of northern Lebanon with around 80 sailors on board.
The majority of the sailors were rescued but 26 were unaccounted for
and presumed dead.
Courtesy
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Ethiopian jet crashes in Lebanon, no sign of survivors
25 January, 2010 | AFP
BEIRUT — An Ethiopian jet carrying 90 people
plunged into the sea off the coast of Lebanon in
a ball of fire just after takeoff in stormy weather
early Monday with no sign of survivors,
officials said.
Helicopters and navy vessels rushed to the
crash site as President Michel Sleiman ruled out
foul play.
Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said Ethiopian
Airlines Flight 409 lost contact with the airport
control tower shortly after takeoff and crashed
into the Mediterranean sea 2.5 nautical miles off
the coastal town of Naameh, south of the
airport.
BEIRUT — An Ethiopian jet carrying 90 people
plunged into the sea off the coast of Lebanon in
a ball of fire just after takeoff in stormy weather
early Monday with no sign of survivors,
officials said.
Helicopters and navy vessels rushed to the
crash site as President Michel Sleiman ruled out
foul play.
Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said Ethiopian
Airlines Flight 409 lost contact with the airport
control tower shortly after takeoff and crashed
into the Mediterranean sea 2.5 nautical miles off
the coastal town of Naameh, south of the
airport.
| Ethiopian Airlines orders 10 Boeing 737-800s Reuters New Ethiopian Airlines-Boeing deal silences Airbus rumours by Desalegn Sisay Battle for the African skies enters new dimension By Wolfgang H. Thome, Ethiopian Airlines' $4.2 Bln Order Goes To Airbus, Boeing By Doug Cameron |
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