The Group Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, Africa’s most successful and biggest airline has confirmed from the site of the crash that there are no survivors.
“The aircraft B737800MAX with registration number ET Bishoftu [Debre AVJ] took off at 08:38 am local time from Addis Ababa, Bole International Airport and lost contact at 08:44 am, six minutes after take off.
Earlier information from the airline said,” the management of Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed that one of its aircraft with flight number ET 302 on a scheduled service from Addis Ababa to Nairobi was involved in an accident today, March 10 around Zeit”.
The brand new aircraft that is barely five mores had 149 passengers and 8 crew onboard the flight.
Meanwhile, passengers according to media reports were from 33 different countries with the majority of them from Kenya.
Tewolde expresses his profound sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of passengers and crew who lost their lives in this tragic accident.
He noted that the airline will release further information as soon as it is available.
Tewolde GebreMariam is a titan of the aviation industry. As Group CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, and he presides over the fastest growing and most profitable airline in Africa.
He began his career in the Cargo Traffic Handling Department at the company when he joined thirty years ago and rose up the ranks through overseas management, Marketing and Sales to Chief Operating Officer before his appointment as CEO.