Ethiopia attacks Lebanon crash comments
24 February, 2010 | IOL
There have been conflicting reports as to whether the passenger jet
exploded in the air or after it hit the water.
Lebanon's transport and information ministers have both repeatedly
ruled out sabotage, but the African airliner has refused to reject any
factor, including foul play.
"My main concern is not with the investigators as long as they follow
International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, my concern is with the
authorities who come out with guesses every morning," Girma said.
"I can see the sensitivity of the issue in Lebanon. To calm down their
own people they can make such statements. That's not the right way
to act. What they are saying is misleading."
Girma said his company expected to receive the first part of an
investigative report later on Wednesday "that will bring out the truth".
Flight ET-409 took off in bad weather conditions and was bound for
Addis Ababa with 83 passengers, the majority of whom were
Lebanese, and seven crew when it crashed. It was the Ethiopian
carrier's worst accident.
The airline said on Tuesday that all the bodies from the crash on
January 25 had been retrieved and identified after a lengthy search
that saw divers struggle to make recoveries because most victims
were strapped to their seats. - Sapa-AFP
Meanwhile, Preliminary report of the investigation does not include
crucial information of the accident, Diriba Kuma, Minister of
Ethiopian Transport and Communication said in a press conference
he gave today February 24, 2010 writes Desalegn Sisay.
According to the Minister, evidence that was first included in the
report and could lead to discovery of the cause of the accident was
later omitted deliberately by officials of the Lebanese government.
Eyewitness accounts, including one that said the plane was blown up
in mid-air, and the voice instruction forwarded to the pilot from the
aviation tour were left out, the minister revealed.
He said he hopes Lebanon officials will adhere to International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) codes and is also confident that the
cause of the accident will be declared as per international regulations
after the ongoing analysis of the discovered data.
“We will not accept any reports that do not follow the ICAO codes,”
Diriba cautioned.
Last month, an Ethiopian Airlines plane, a Boeing 737-800, carrying
83 passengers and seven crew members, crashed immediately after
take off from Beirut airport in Lebanon. It was a direct flight to Addis
Ababa.
A defence ministry official had told reporters that the Boeing 737
exploded into four pieces before crashing shortly after takeoff whilst
a release by the Lebanese army indicated that the plane was "on fire
shortly after takeoff".
24 February, 2010 | IOL
- Addis Ababa - Ethiopian Airlines
chief Girma Wake on Wednesday
accused Lebanese authorities of
making "misleading" comments
about the cause of a crash that
killed 90 people off Beirut last
month.
There have been conflicting reports as to whether the passenger jet
exploded in the air or after it hit the water.
Lebanon's transport and information ministers have both repeatedly
ruled out sabotage, but the African airliner has refused to reject any
factor, including foul play.
"My main concern is not with the investigators as long as they follow
International Civil Aviation Organisation rules, my concern is with the
authorities who come out with guesses every morning," Girma said.
"I can see the sensitivity of the issue in Lebanon. To calm down their
own people they can make such statements. That's not the right way
to act. What they are saying is misleading."
Girma said his company expected to receive the first part of an
investigative report later on Wednesday "that will bring out the truth".
Flight ET-409 took off in bad weather conditions and was bound for
Addis Ababa with 83 passengers, the majority of whom were
Lebanese, and seven crew when it crashed. It was the Ethiopian
carrier's worst accident.
The airline said on Tuesday that all the bodies from the crash on
January 25 had been retrieved and identified after a lengthy search
that saw divers struggle to make recoveries because most victims
were strapped to their seats. - Sapa-AFP
Meanwhile, Preliminary report of the investigation does not include
crucial information of the accident, Diriba Kuma, Minister of
Ethiopian Transport and Communication said in a press conference
he gave today February 24, 2010 writes Desalegn Sisay.
According to the Minister, evidence that was first included in the
report and could lead to discovery of the cause of the accident was
later omitted deliberately by officials of the Lebanese government.
Eyewitness accounts, including one that said the plane was blown up
in mid-air, and the voice instruction forwarded to the pilot from the
aviation tour were left out, the minister revealed.
He said he hopes Lebanon officials will adhere to International Civil
Aviation Organization (ICAO) codes and is also confident that the
cause of the accident will be declared as per international regulations
after the ongoing analysis of the discovered data.
“We will not accept any reports that do not follow the ICAO codes,”
Diriba cautioned.
Last month, an Ethiopian Airlines plane, a Boeing 737-800, carrying
83 passengers and seven crew members, crashed immediately after
take off from Beirut airport in Lebanon. It was a direct flight to Addis
Ababa.
A defence ministry official had told reporters that the Boeing 737
exploded into four pieces before crashing shortly after takeoff whilst
a release by the Lebanese army indicated that the plane was "on fire
shortly after takeoff".
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