At least 157 people are feared dead after an Ethiopian airline destined to Nairobi Kenya crashed this morning.
In a statement Ethiopian airlines said the plane lost contact with the radar six minutes after takeoff.
“It is believed that there were 149 passengers and 8 crew onboard,” said the statement.
The plane was a brand new B-737-800MAX with registration number ET-AVJ that was bought 4 months ago.
“The aircraft B-737-800MAX with registration number ET-AVJ took off at 08:38 am local time from Adis Ababa, Bole International Airport and lost contact at 08.44am,”the statement said.
The airline said it regrets to confirm that its flight ET 302/10 was involved in an accident today around Bishoftu (Debre Zeit ).
It said there is a search and rescue operation but it has no information about survivors or nay possible causalities.
The statement added that the airline staff will be sent to the accident scene and will do everything possible to assist the emergency services.
It said its establishing a passenger information centre and telephone number and that further information will be released.
In a tweet, Ethiopian prime minister’s office condoled with the families of those who lost their loved ones.
“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,” read the tweet posted by the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.