Months after a deadly crash in Indonesia involving the same model, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 has crashed on its way to Nairobi, Kenya, carrying 149 passengers and eight crew members, minutes after take-off.
Operated by Ethiopian Airlines, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was on a routine flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to the Kenyan capital. The airline confirmed that there were no survivors.
The Ethiopian prime minister’s office was the first to comment on the crash, tweeting that the government “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.”
Ethiopian Airlines said that nationals of 33 different countries were among the dead. Three passengers traveled under UN passports and their nations of origin are still being determined.
The Boeing aircraft was reportedly brand new and had been delivered to the airline just four months ago.
The company said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened” about the tragic accident and would provide technical assistance to find out why its aircraft crashed.
