Four Indians among 157 killed in Ethiopia plane crash

As many as four Indians were among the 157 people killed in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on Sunday.

The plane, Boeing 737 Max-8 en route to Nairobi, crashed shortly after taking off from the Ethiopian capital, killing all 149 passengers and 8 crew on board, according to media reports.

"Profound condolences to the families of 149 passengers killed in an Ethiopian Airlines crash soon after takeoff from Addis Ababa en route to Nairobi. Among them were 4 Indians & 4 UN staff. RIP," Congress MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted.

Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam said passengers from more than 30 countries were on board the flight, the BBC reported. They included 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, 9 Ethiopians, 8 Italians, 8 Chinese, 8 Americans, 7 Britons, 7 French, 6 Egyptians, 5 Dutch citizens, 4 Indians and 4 from Slovakia.

Three Austrians, 3 Swedes, 3 Russians, 2 Moroccans, 2 Spaniards, 2 Poles and 2 Israelis were also on the flight.

One passenger each belonged to Belgium, Indonesia, Somalia, Norway, Serbia, Togo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen.

The crash happened at 8.44 a.m., six minutes after the Boeing 737 Max-8 took off.

The cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

--IANS

pgh/pcj