An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet travelling from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, in Kenya, has crashed mid flight, leaving no survivors.
There were 149 passengers and eight crew members aboard when the crash happened, just six minutes after take off at 08.44am local time and 31 miles from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
The airline has now confirmed there were no survivors.
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In a statement shared to the firm's Facebook page, they said: "The group CEO, Mr Tewolde Gebremariam, who is at the accident scene now regrets to confirm that there are no survivors.
"He expresses his profound sympathy and condolences to the families and loved ones of passengers and crew who lost their lives in this tragic accident."
Shortly after news of the crash was announced, the office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister said on Twitter: "The office of the PM, on behalf of government and people of Ethiopia, would like to express it's deepest condolences to the families that have lost their loved ones on Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 on regular scheduled flight to Nairobi, Kenya this morning."
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The state-owned Ethiopian Airlines is known as Africa's largest carrier. A statement from the airline said they had no official information confirmed so far.
The statement said: "We hereby confirm that our scheduled flight ET 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi was involved in an accident today. It is believed that there were 149 passengers and eight crew on board the flight but we are currently confirming the details of the passenger manifest for the flight."
Adding: "Ethiopian Airlines staff will be sent to the accident scene and will do everything possible to assist the emergency services."
The airline has set up a passenger information centre and a dedicated telephone number for family and friends of those believed to have been on board.
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