Search for survivors of Ethiopian Airlines crash continues

2010-01-26 08:24 BJT

Special Report: Ethiopian Plane Crashes into Mediterranean Sea |

All 90 people on board an Ethiopian Airlines plane are feared dead after it crashed into the Mediterranean, minutes after taking off from Beirut in a thunderstorm. Authorities are continuing search efforts for missing passengers and crew. Thirty-four bodies, including two children, have so far been recovered.

A Lebanese diver gathers debris from the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed in the sea at the shore near Beirut airport, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. An Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying 90 people caught fire and crashed into the sea minutes after taking off from Beirut early Monday, setting off a frantic search as rain lashed the coast and debris washed ashore.(AP Photo/Bilal Hussein) 
A Lebanese diver gathers debris from the 
Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed in 
the sea at the shore near Beirut airport, 
Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. An 
Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying 90 
people caught fire and crashed into the 
sea minutes after taking off from Beirut 
early Monday, setting off a frantic search
as rain lashed the coast and debris washed 
ashore.(AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
 

Flight ET409 took off from Beirut at 2:37 a.m. local time on Monday.

The Boeing 737-800, was heading for Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, before it disappeared off the radar about five minutes after take-off.

The Lebanese army said the plane had broken up in the air before plummeting into rough seas.

The cause of the crash has not been confirmed but Lebanon has been hit by bad weather since Sunday night.

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman has said earlier that "a sabotage attack was unlikely".

Lebanon's Defense Minister also said there was no evidence of a terrorist attack. He said the search for bodies and debris would continue.

Elias El-Murr, Lebanese Defense Minister, said, "Our hearts go out to the families of the missing and I can assure you that the mission which began this morning is going to continue. There is no time frame for it."

There were 90 people on board, including seven crew members.

Fifty-four were Lebanese, 22 were Ethiopian, two were British. There were also Canadian, Russian, French, Iraqi, Syrian, and Turkish passengers. The wife of the French ambassador to Lebanon was also on the flight.

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