Forensic teams from Ethiopia and international partners have begun identifying victims of the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max-8 crash that occurred on March 10, killing 157 people, including 32 Kenyans. The aircraft, which had been in service for only four months, crashed near Bishoftu, about 60 kilometers from Addis Ababa, after pilots requested a diversion to Bole International Airport following a distress call.
Images from the crash site show a large crater consistent with a nose-first impact, along with scattered debris, personal effects, and metallic fragments from the fuselage. The plane, en route from Johannesburg to Nairobi, lost contact with air traffic control six minutes after takeoff. Investigators are examining the second crash of the Max-8 model in less than five months, raising questions about its safety.
The accident claimed lives of passengers from 34 countries, with Kenya reporting the highest number of casualties. Among the victims was Kenyan football referee Hussein Swaleh, who was returning home after officiating a CAF Champions League match. U.S. authorities advised citizens to avoid Bole International Airport for two days following the incident.
