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| Ethiopian jet crashes off Beirut | Ethiopian jet crashes off Beirut |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An Ethiopian Airlines passenger plane with 89 people on board has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off from Beirut airport. | |
| Eyewitnesses say they saw a ball of fire in the sky before the jet crashed into the sea. | Eyewitnesses say they saw a ball of fire in the sky before the jet crashed into the sea. |
| Wreckage from the plane has been seen off the Lebanese coast. | Wreckage from the plane has been seen off the Lebanese coast. |
| Most of the those on board Flight ET409 were Lebanese and Ethiopian nationals. Two Britons were also on the passenger list, officials said. | Most of the those on board Flight ET409 were Lebanese and Ethiopian nationals. Two Britons were also on the passenger list, officials said. |
| The other passengers included citizens of Turkey, France, Russia, Canada, Syria and Iraq, Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement on its website. | The other passengers included citizens of Turkey, France, Russia, Canada, Syria and Iraq, Ethiopian Airlines said in a statement on its website. |
| Among them was the wife of the French ambassador in Beirut, Marla Pietton. | |
| The plane, a Boeing 737, was carrying 80 passengers and nine crew. | |
| It disappeared from radar screens some five minutes after take-off in stormy weather at about 0200 local time. | It disappeared from radar screens some five minutes after take-off in stormy weather at about 0200 local time. |
| The BBC's Natalia Antelava, in Beirut, reports that the Lebanese transport minister and other officials say a rescue operation including helicopters and naval ships is now under way, but it is unclear if there are any survivors. | The BBC's Natalia Antelava, in Beirut, reports that the Lebanese transport minister and other officials say a rescue operation including helicopters and naval ships is now under way, but it is unclear if there are any survivors. |
| An investigative team has been dispatched to the scene, Ethiopian Airlines said. | An investigative team has been dispatched to the scene, Ethiopian Airlines said. |
| The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but the plane took off in a heavy rainstorm. | |
| Ethiopia and Lebanon share close business ties, and thousands of Ethiopians are employed as domestic helpers in Lebanon. | Ethiopia and Lebanon share close business ties, and thousands of Ethiopians are employed as domestic helpers in Lebanon. |
| Ethiopian Airlines operates a regular flight between Addis Ababa from Beirut. | Ethiopian Airlines operates a regular flight between Addis Ababa from Beirut. |
| Are you in the region? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in the region? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |