An Ethiopian Airlines plane with 90 people on board crashed into the sea early today shortly after takeoff from Beirut, officials said.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft was en route from Beirut to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, when it disappeared from radar five minutes after takeoff, plane burst into a ball of flames, and fell into the water off Lebanon’s south coast from Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut about 2:30 a.m. local time (7:30 p.m. EST), Lebanon’s National News Agency reported.
Minister of Public Works and Transport Ghazi Aridi confirms the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409, carrying 83 passengers and 7 crew, went down about 2 miles (3.5 kilometers) off the Lebanese coast and navy ships and aircraft are searching for survivors.
The accident took place in “an undoubtedly very bad” weather in Lebanon so the police said that it was likely weather-related and dismissed the idea that it was terrorism attack.
“This is a painful, tragic event. We are sparing no efforts in trying to find survivors. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of those on board,” Lebanese President Michel Sleiman told reporters.
“Hospitals and medical teams must now be prepared, as well as all those who will be involved in keeping the families updated,” Sleiman said.
“The weather conditions are terrible but rescue efforts are still under way.”
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines released a statement on its official website:
“A team is already working on gathering all pertinent information,” the statement said. “An investigative team has already been dispatched to the scene and we will release further information as further updates are received.”
The Lebanese army, navy and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) were searching the area on Monday morning. The crews had found nine bodies so far, but no survivors. 54 passengers were identified as Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi, one Syrian, one Canadian of Lebanese origin, one Russian of Lebanese origin, a French woman and two Britons of Lebanese origin.
