Ethiopian refutes Daily Star’s report on ET-409 crash

Addis Ababa, September 13 (WIC)– Ethiopian Airlines today refuted ‘a factually incorrect’ report by the Lebanese Daily Star on ET-409 crash investigation progress report.

On September 8, 2011, The Daily Star published a story on the press conference presided by the Lebanese Minister of Public Works. The newspaper reported that the investigation on ET-409 crash is finalized and will be sent to Ethiopia, France and US for a 60-day review process.

“Ethiopian Airlines regrettably noted that some factually incorrect statements were released in the subject press conference,” said the national flag carrier in a statement sent to WIC today.

The statement noted that the investigation process has reached only at a technical review stage and needs to be followed by the analysis stage as agreed in the action plan.

“It is abundantly clear to all parties of the investigation team that it [the investigation] is far from being finalized,” the statement said. “As long as the process is not completed in accordance with the agreed action plan therefore, the investigation will remain unfinished.”

An investigation team comprising members from Lebanon, Ethiopia, America and France has been set up to investigate the cause of the ill-fated aircraft.
The Airlines said the Ethiopian delegation traveled to Beirut on August 19, 2011 to join the Lebanese and American members of the investigation team to conduct the technical review.

“To the dismay of the Ethiopian delegation, none of the members except the head of the Lebanese delegation were present for the task,” the statement disclosed.

The statement further noted that several documents, evidences, and data, which were requested to be submitted by the Lebanese authorities since the beginning of the investigation, were once again not availed for review despite repeated requests to the Lebanese authorities to do so.

As a result the Ethiopian delegation left for Addis Ababa notifying the Lebanese delegation that they cannot proceed with the technical review in the absence of such ‘vital documents’, the statement said.

“We would like to once again underscore the fact that we will not rule out any possible cause to the accident be it weather, technical, security or otherwise, as all such factors are of great relevance and equally important in making the investigation complete,” said Ethiopian adding that it will continue to cooperate and work closely with the investigation team to produce a comprehensive and truthful report.

In the early hours of January 25, 2010, ET 409 plunged into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after takeoff from Rafic Hariri International Airport, in Lebanon. The crash claimed the lives of all 90 people on board, eight of them crew members.

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