Report - Airliner crashes into Med off Lebanese coast - Ethiopian Airlines - NewsDire.com

http://newsdire.com Reports from Press TV - Airliner crashes into Med off Lebanese coast - NewsDire.com

An Ethiopian Airlines plane with 90 people on board crashed into the Mediterranean sea shortly after taking off from Beirut international airport in the early hours of Monday, the Lebanese transport minister said.

The Boeing 737-800 disappeared off the radar some five minutes after taking off at 2:37 a.m. (7:37 p.m. ET Sunday) during a thunder storm and heavy rain, airport sources said. It was heading for Addis Ababa.

Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi told reporters at the airport that the crash site had been identified 31/2 kilometres west of the coastal village of Naameh.

He said search and rescue operations were under way but declined to give further details. He said it was too early to say what caused the crash but confirmed the plane took off in stormy weather.

An investigation into the cause was under way, Mr. Aridi added.

Eight-three passengers and seven crew were aboard, Mr. Aridi said. Fifty-four were Lebanese, 22 Ethiopian, two were British and there were also Canadian, Russian, French, Iraqi and Syrian nationals.

Witnesses said Lebanese army patrol boats were searching a small area off Naameh, which lies 10 kilometres south of Beirut. Mr. Aridi said the authorities had requested help from UN peacekeepers and some neighbouring countries.

A police spokeswoman in the nearby island of Cyprus told Reuters that a Cypriot police helicopter had headed to the crash scene to help the search for survivors.

A spokesman for the British military stationed in Cyprus said they were on standby to provide assistance and that there were two UN helicopters on the scene.

According to one source, residents on the coast saw a ball of fire crashing off Naameh.

Senior Lebanese officials and some family members of the passengers headed to Rafik Hariri International Airport after news of the crash. The plane had flown in from Addis Ababa earlier in the night, airport sources said.

State-owned Ethiopian Airlines, which could not immediately be reached for comment, has positioned itself as a major player in international air traffic in Africa and has recently expanded its Asian network.

It has regular flights to Lebanon, catering for business clients and the hundreds of Ethiopians who work there as domestic helpers.

Last Friday the airline announced an order for 10 of Boeings Next-Generation 737-800s for a total price of $767-million (U.S.).

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[TheBrradsullivan]

its funny how they try and act all professional and western yet they still have to stupid shit on their head

[Kalydosos]

@Jimes28 The Pilot is Ethiopian, black African so of course the crash is his fault!!! according this Lebanese bitch with no facts.

[Kalydosos]

@LebanonPhoenica I don't agree with you. Everyone is capable of behaving badly look at the hateful attitudes Lebanese have towards West Africans. Its quite disgusting whether it in be in Gambia, Ghana, Senegal so no this is one black guy not interested in what happens to a Lebanese. Next the Israelies which will be very soon treat you badly I'll what I normally do and turn the TV news off.

[LebanonPhoenica]

WHERE are the Lebanese??????????????????

NEVER saw women reporter in Lebanon looking like that! tooooooo depressing!!!!!!!!!!

[LebanonPhoenica]

DESTROY the True Satanic Terrorists the ISRAELIS committing most of the atrocious inhumane CRIMES around the world and their Terrorist Partners, EU-US-SaudiArabia -Syria-Iran...

[solomonpilot767]

@Jimes28 i agree w/u i guess she was pms ing she doesn't know her pussy from her ass!

[fr44ed]

Two eyewitnesses on SkyNews said they saw a flash in the sky and fire falling into the sea.

[Takanozana]

It WAS obviously the same aircraft SOLD BY Michael O Leary.

EI-??? TO ET-ANB

[hananeth]

@s6xer keep your mouth shut u r nothing in this situation just watch out you ignorant "reporter" u do not even have a good reporter

[Sige23]

no listen u ass hole. who look like king kongs? may be u should take a good look at ur mother. You know it will be the luckiest day of your lousy life you can become an ethiopian. please don't even think about writing a response. just go fuck yourself.