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Kagame Mourns Victims of Ethiopian Plane Crash

by Dan Ngabonziza
5:34 pm

FILE PHOTO: An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX

Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame has sent heartfelt condolences to families of the victims of an Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed on Sunday morning on its way from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Kenya.

“Our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives on the Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. We stand with Prime Minister Abiy and the people of Ethiopia. Our thoughts are with you,” President Kagame tweeted.

A statement issued by Ethiopian Airlines on Sunday afternoon said the plane carried 157 people on board.

“It is believed that there were 149 passengers and eight crew on board but we are currently confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight,” it said. All passengers on board died.

The plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa.

According to the statement, routine checks and maintenance never revealed any faults as the plane was a brand new aircraft delivered in November 2018.

It is said the plane’s captain had made a distress call requesting to return to the airport and that clearance had been given.