No sign of survivors after plane bursts into 'ball of fire' over sea

ALL 90 people who were on board a plane which crashed into the sea are feared dead, including two British passport holders.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409, from Beirut to Addis Ababa, burst into a "ball of fire" and plunged into the Mediterranean just minutes after taking off in stormy weather.

Afif Krisht, who had dual British-Lebanese nationality, was one of the passengers, according to sources.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 55-year-old businessman was a father of six who split his time

between Lebanon and Plymouth, Devon, where three children from his

first marriage to a British woman live, according to reports.

Messages paying tribute were posted on Facebook, with Hassan Krisht,

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

who said his father is Mr Krisht's cousin, writing: "R.I.P all passengers and Amo Afif you will be missed you were like a father."

There were 90 people on board the Boeing 737, and more than 30 bodies have been recovered so far.

Lebanese authorities quickly ruled out terrorism for the crash, but it is understood the weather may have played a part in the accident, which happened as thunder, lightning and heavy rain lashed down.

President Michel Suleiman said: "Sabotage is ruled out as of now."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The country's transportation minister, Ghazi Aridi, added: "The weather undoubtedly was very bad."

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that one British national and one dual national were on board Ethiopian Air flight number ET 409 departing from Beirut to Ethiopia, that crashed into the sea off the coast of Lebanon early this morning.

"A British Royal Air Force helicopter, based in Cyprus, has joined the Lebanese authorities' search and rescue operation. Our thoughts are

with the families of all those involved in this tragedy."

No further details about the two people would be released until next of kin have been informed, the spokeswoman added.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ethiopian Airlines said that, as well as the two Britons, there were 22 Ethiopians, 54 Lebanese, one French, one Russian, one Canadian, one Syrian and one Iraqi among the passengers.

Also on board was the wife of the French ambassador to Lebanon,

according to a French embassy official.

The aircraft took off from Beirut at around 2.30am local time (12.30am GMT) for Addis Ababa and went down about two miles off the coast.

Relatives gathered at Beirut airport, many of them crying and hugging one another as they were led into a VIP area.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ethiopian Airlines said on its website: "A team is already working on gathering all pertinent information.

"An investigative team has already been dispatched to the scene and we will release further information as further updates are received."

A British team of aircraft accident handling and crisis management experts was travelling from London to Beirut last night to help with the rescue mission and set up a family assistance centre.

In a statement, the Ethiopian government said the prime minister, Ato Meles Zenawi, had expressed "shock and sadness on behalf of the Government and people of Ethiopia".

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Britons requiring consular assistance can contact the consular office on 00961 (0)334 5520. Relatives can contact an emergency call centre which has been set up for the incident by dialling +271 1635 2000.

Related topics: