This archive report was first published on 26 July 2021.
On Sunday, Ethiopian Airlines began diverting all domestic and international flights headed to Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport due to bad weather in the area.
According to an Ethiopian Airlines official, who spoke to The EastAfrican on July 26, 2021, flights were diverted to nearby airports, including those in neighboring Djibouti, to ensure the safety of passengers.
"This is due to bad weather at Bole International Airport and the surrounding area," the official said, adding that passengers would be flown back to Ethiopia once the weather improves.
Despite the diversion, several planes were seen flying over Addis Ababa toward Bole Airport for landing on Monday, contradicting claims that the airport had been shut down.
"The rumours circulating on social media that Bole Airport has been shut down are false," the official said, denying allegations of suspicious activity at the facility.
