Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX Crashes After Takeoff from Addis Ababa (Update)
This post has been updated with additional information as of 1:40pm on 03/10/19.
Ethiopian Airlines and Ethiopian government officials have confirmed that an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa International Airport (ADD). The flight Ethiopian Airlines ET302 was en route to Nairobi, Kenya (NBO).
According to the airline, 149 passengers and 8 crew members were on board the flight to Nairobi. The Prime Minister acknowledged via Twitter that there are fatalities.
An Ethiopian Airlines spokesperson has confirmed to TPG that there are no survivors from the crash. The passengers were of 35 nationalities, including eight Americans.
According to Flightradar24, flight ET302 departed Addis Ababa (ADD) at 8:38am with the flight tracking system having lost contact with the aircraft just three minutes after departure around 8:41am due to its limited coverage in the area.
Before losing contact, a distress call was issued. "From the air traffic control records, the pilot said that he was having difficulties and wanted to return," according to airline CEO Tewolde Gebremariam. Senior Captain Yared Getachew was commanding the flight along with First Officer Ahmed Nur Mohammod Nur. The two had cumulative flight hours of more than 8,000 and 200, respectively.
However, the information that FlightRadar24 was able to track shows unstable vertical speeds, with the aircraft quickly switching between climbing and descending multiple times in the three minute log:
Ethiopian Airlines has reported that the airline lost contact with ET302 at 8:44 AM. Numerous sources report that the aircraft crashed near the city of Adama, Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Airlines has confirmed in a statement that flight ET302 was operated with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the registration ET-AVJ. This aircraft was delivered to the airline in Nov. 2018 and entered service the same month. The Boeing 737 MAX Family is Boeing's latest 737-variant having debuted in 2016 and entering into service in 2017.
The Boeing 737 MAX has recently been involved in another notable accident. Lion Air flight 610 crashed shortly after takeoff on Oct. 29, 2018, resulting in the loss of all passengers and crew on board. That incident is still under investigation.
While it is too early to know what may have caused the crash, the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement, "Further investigation will be carried out to find out the cause of the accident in collaboration with all stakeholders including the aircraft manufactured Boeing, Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority and other international entities to maintain the international standard and information will be provided once the cause if identified."
Weather in the region was reportedly uneventful with scattered clouds, light winds and good visibility. Operations at Addis Ababa-Bole International Airport have been unaffected.
Ethiopian Airlines has established informational hotlines for those affected by the incident:
For more information, read TPG's full coverage of the Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crash and aftermath:
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees