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Ethiopian Plane Crushes Into Mediterranean With 90 Passenger

  1. Posted on Monday 25 January 2010 - 10:00
    Yohanes
    Image of Yohanes
    By Andualem Sisay
    Ethiopian Airlines plane, which was flying from Beirut to Addis Ababa, crushed into the Mediterranean with 90 people onboard. The jet crushes into the sea shortly after take-off from Lebanese to Addis Ababa.

    The crash was likely weather-related. Beirut has seen heavy rain and lightning since Sunday. Helicopters and naval ships were scrambled to find the plane.
    The airline said that the jet (flight number 490) disappeared from radar screens shortly after takeoff from Beirut airport. 8 are crew while the rest are from various nationalities.

    The statement of the airline from the website reads: "A team is already working on gathering all pertinent information," the statement said. "An investigative team has already been dispatched to the scene and we will release further information as further updates are received."

    Relatives of the passengers began arriving at the airport early Monday, many of them crying and hugging. Officials led them into a VIP area.

    54 passengers were Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi, one Syrian, one Canadian of Lebanese origin, one Russian of Lebanese origin, a French woman and two Britons of Lebanese origin.

    The wife of the French ambassador to Lebanon was on the plane, according to an embassy official who asked that his name not be used because of the sensitivity of the matter.


    Ethiopian Plane Crushes Into Mediterranean With 90 Passenger

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