The Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800MAX (ET-AVJ) departed Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport at 8:38 a.m. local time on March 10, 2019, bound for Nairobi. Six minutes into the flight, the aircraft lost contact while flying over Bishoftu, according to the airline's statement.
The plane carried 149 passengers and eight crew members, totaling 157 people. Ethiopian Airlines confirmed the loss of communication but stated no survivor information was available as search and rescue operations began.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed condolences through Twitter, stating, "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 this morning." The tragedy occurred on the same day as the aircraft's scheduled departure.
