Iran condoles with Ethiopia over plane crash

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi extended Tehran’s condolences to the Ethiopian nation and government over a plane crash incident that has claimed the lives of 157 passengers and crews on Sunday.

The spokesman regretted the incident and offered sympathy to the Ethiopian nation, government and the bereaved families of the victims.

An Ethiopian Airlines flight to Nairobi crashed early on Sunday with 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard, a spokesman for the airline said Sunday.

The Boeing 737 MAX was flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. The Boeing aircraft was reportedly brand new and had been delivered to the airline just four months ago.

The airline spokesperson stated in statement that a rescue operation is being launched but had no information about survivors. Later in the day, officials declared that all the 157 passengers and crew on board the plane have lost their lives in the incident.

The plane took off from Addis Ababa at 8:38 am local time, and crashed shortly after at 8:44 am, the spokesperson of the airline noted.

The cause and location of the crash remained unknown on Sunday morning.

EA