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Photos from the scene of the crashed Ethiopian flight that killed 157 people

People walk at the crash scene
People walk at the crash scene
Image: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
By
Abdi Latif Dahir
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One hundred and fifty-seven people from at least 35 different nationalities were killed today (Mar. 10) after their Ethiopian Airlines flight en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi crashed minutes after take off.

The ET 302 flight fell in Bishoftu town, located 60 kilometers (37 miles) southeast of the capital Addis Ababa, killing all 149 passengers and 8 crew members. The pilot had faced “difficulties” and requested to turn back the plane, Ethiopian’s head Tewolde GebreMariam said, and was given clearance to return back to the capital.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 had flown back to Addis from Johannesburg this morning, according to the carrier, and had undergone “rigorous first check maintenance” in early February. The state airline said it was “too early to speculate” about what caused the accident and was partnering with the aircraft manufacturer Boeing and other stakeholders to determine the reason. The US Federal Aviation Agency said it will send four people to assist in the investigations.

The Ethiopian crash is the second time in five months that a plane from the Boeing 737 Max 8 series has gone down. Last October, a Lion Air flight of the same model crashed minutes after leaving Jakarta, Indonesia killing 189 people on board.

Forensic investigations are set to be carried out to identify the victim’s bodies. Families and loved ones have currently gathered at the emergency response centers set up in Addis Ababa’s Bole airport and Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta airport to assist the families that have lost their loved ones.

Cigarettes are seen on a cordon line at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 10, 2019.
Cigarettes are seen on a cordon line at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines flight crash
Image: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
A general view shows the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 10, 2019.
A general view of the scene
Image: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
A passenger safety instruction card is seen at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 10, 2019.
A passenger safety instruction card is seen at the scene of the crash
Image: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
A civilian takes a photograph of the wreckage at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 10, 2019.
A civilian takes a photograph of the wreckage at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines wreckage
Image: REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
In this photo taken from the Ethiopian Airlines Facebook page, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam, looks at the wreckage of the plane that crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Sunday March 10, 2019. An Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ethiopia's capital on Sunday morning, killing all 157 people thought to be on board, the airline and state broadcaster said, as anxious families rushed to airports in Addis Ababa and the destination, Nairobi.
The CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde Gebremariam, looks at the wreckage of the plane
Image: Facebook via AP
Airport staff wait for relatives at a help desk set up for the crashed Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya, 10 March 2019. Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 en route to Nairobi, Kenya, crashed near Bishoftu, some 50km outside of the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 10 March 2019, the airline said in its statement. All passengers onboard the scheduled flight ET 302 carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew members, have died, the airlines says.
Airport staff at Kenya’s main international airport
Image: Daniel Irungu/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock
A Djiboutian national Hiba (L) is comforted by a relative as she waits for details of her loved one that was on board the flight Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi, Kenya, 10 March 2019. Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 en route to Nairobi, Kenya, crashed near Bishoftu, some 50km outside of the capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 10 March 2019, the airline said in its statement. All passengers onboard the scheduled flight ET 302 carrying 149 passengers and 8 crew members, have died, the airlines says.
A Djiboutian national Hiba (L) is comforted by a relative as she waits for details of her loved one.
Image: Daniel Irungu/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

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