Ethiopian Airlines Jet Crashes Into Sea

25 January 2010

An Ethiopian Airlines jet has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off in stormy weather from Beirut airport, according to news reports on Monday.

The BBC said there were 83 passengers and nine crew aboard the plane. Most of those on Flight ET409 were Lebanese and Ethiopian nationals bound for the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, the report said.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing a ball of fire before the jet fell from the sky. The plane's wreckage has been found and search and rescue operations were underway, according to Reuters news agency. It was not immediately clear if there were any survivors.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.