Lebanon mourns Ethiopian Airlines crash
Ethiopian Airlines jet crashes off Lebanon - Boeing 747 with 90 people on board crashes into Mediterranean shortly after takeoff from Rafic Hariri airport in Beirut
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Monday, 25, Jan 2010 11:28
By Matthew Champion.
A day of mourning has been declared in Lebanon after an Ethiopian Airlines jet with 90 people on board crashed shortly after takeoff from Beirut.
The airline said it had lost contact with the Boeing 737 at 02:35 Lebanese time (00:35 GMT), with eyewitnesses reporting seeing a ball of flame plunge into the Mediterranean 3.5km (2.1 miles) west of the town of Na'ameh, itself 15km (nine miles) south of Beirut.
More than 20 bodies have been recovered so far, with no sign of survivors.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon has joined efforts to find survivors, but rescuers are being hampered by torrential rain and thunderstorms off the coast of Lebanon.
Flight 409, from Rafic Hariri airport to Addis Ababa, was carrying 82 passengers and eight crew members. Ethiopian Airlines said 23 Ethiopians, 51 Lebanese, two Britons, one Russian, one Canadian, one Syrian, one Iraqi, one French and one Turkish national made up the passenger list.
As families gathered at airports in Beirut and Addis Ababa, Lebanese president Michel Suleiman said there was no evidence of terrorist involvement in the crash.
"This is a painful, tragic event. We are sparing no efforts in trying to find survivors," he said. "Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the families of those on board.
"The weather conditions are terrible, but rescue efforts are still under way."
At a press conference at the Ethiopia Airlines' headquarters, its chief executive Ato Girma said: "We are very sorry to have you here this morning under this tragic circumstance involving this unfortunate accident. Let me extend my deepest sympathy to the family members and friends of the victims."
Speaking in London, prime minister Gordon Brown offered his condolences over the incident and said the Foreign and Commonwealth was working "urgently" to establish if any British citizens were on board.