An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 crashed during a flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi on Sunday, with the airline reporting 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff at 08:44 local time, according to a spokesman.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted his 'deepest condolences' to families affected by the crash, citing the loss of lives on the scheduled Nairobi-bound flight. A social media post from the Office of the Prime Minister reiterated the statement, calling for solidarity with grieving families.
Search and rescue operations were underway near Bishoftu, the site of the crash, with Ethiopian Airlines confirming it would deploy staff to assist emergency services. The airline has not yet disclosed casualty numbers.
The carrier, which operates extensive African routes, has a generally strong safety record. However, it previously faced major incidents, including a 2010 crash in the Mediterranean Sea that killed 90 people and a 1996 hijacking that resulted in 123 fatalities after a failed water landing in the Indian Ocean.
