Ethiopian Airlines confirmed a crash involving a Boeing 737 en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi early Sunday, with 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard. The aircraft departed Bole International Airport at 08:38 and lost contact six minutes later near Bishoftu, formerly Debre Zeit.
The airline stated it was verifying passenger details and coordinating with emergency services. "Search and rescue operations are underway, but no survivor reports or casualty figures have been confirmed," a statement said. Ethiopian Airlines pledged to support on-site efforts.
The Ethiopian Prime Minister's office expressed grief, tweeting: "The Office of the PM, on behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia, extends deepest condolences to families affected by the tragic incident." No survivors have been reported as of the latest update.
