An Ethiopian Airways Boeing 737-800MAX crashed shortly after departing from Addis Ababa on a flight to Nairobi, according to initial reports. The aircraft, carrying 149 passengers and eight crew members, lost contact six minutes after takeoff.
The airline confirmed the flight, registered as ET-AVJ, departed Bole International Airport at 8:38 a.m. local time and vanished from radar at 8:44 a.m. Search and rescue teams are currently assessing the situation, with no confirmed survivor reports.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed condolences via social media, 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, Kenya this morning."
