Monday, January 25, 2010

A Tragic Plane Crash...

Today a tragic plane crash occurred. Around 2:30 a.m. an Ethiopian Airlines plane took off and went into the air, no longer than 3 minutes passed then the plane went on fire and crashed into the Mediterranean.

An Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying 90 people caught fire and crashed into the Mediterranean shortly after takeoff on Monday from Beirut, setting off a frantic search as rain lashed the coast and debris washed ashore. At least 23 bodies were recovered.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known. Lebanon has been slammed by bad weather since Sunday night, with crackling thunder, lightning and pouring rain.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said terrorism was not suspected in the crash of Flight 409, which was headed for the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. 

Pieces of the plane and debris were washing ashore in the hours after the crash, including passenger seats, a fire extinguisher and bottles of medicine.
The wife of Denis Pietton, the French ambassador to Lebanon, was on the plane, according to the French embassy.
Helicopters and naval ships were scrambled for a rescue effort as huge waves slammed into the shore and rain lashed the coast.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced a day of mourning and closed schools and government offices.
The plane was carrying 90 people, including 83 passengers and seven crew. Mr. Aridi identified the passengers as 54 Lebanese, 22 Ethiopians, one Iraqi, one Syrian, one Canadian of Lebanese origin, one Russian of Lebanese origin, a French woman and two Britons of Lebanese origin, there were no survivors.

May their souls rest in peace...

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