Ethiopian Airlines Plane Crash in Bishoftu: Electrical Problems Known Before the Tragic Incident
The Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed near Bishoftu city five years ago had been identified as having electrical problems before the accident.
The ill-fated flight, designated ET-302, departed from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport bound for Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the early hours of March 10, 2019.
Tragically, the aircraft crashed just six minutes after takeoff in the Tulu Fora area, resulting in the deaths of all 157 people on board, including crew members.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8, was part of the fleet of Ethiopian Airlines and had been manufactured by the Boeing Company.
In the aftermath of the crash, the Ethiopian government attributed the cause of the accident to a design flaw in the aircraft, holding Boeing responsible.
Initially, Boeing denied any responsibility, but the company later admitted fault and accepted responsibility for the accident.
Recently, new report has emerged, revealing that Boeing was aware of electrical transmission line issues in the Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 before the crash.
According to a BBC report, over a thousand 737 Max 8 aircraft currently in service worldwide could be at risk of similar accidents.
The Boeing Aviation Safety Foundation disclosed that Boeing knew about the electrical faults in the 737 Max 8 planes operated by both Ethiopian Airlines and Indonesia’s Lion Air before the tragic crashes.
These incidents were primarily attributed to a malfunction in the aircraft’s flight control system, which was triggered by a sensor failure at an inappropriate time.
The crash claimed the lives of passengers from diverse nationalities: nine Ethiopians, 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, 8 Chinese, 7 French, 6 Egyptians, 5 Dutch, and 4 Indians were among those who perished.
Despite the tragedy, Ethiopian Airlines remains committed to enhancing the passenger experience.
The airline, a seven-time consecutive recipient of the prestigious Skytrax award, is Africa’s most expansive carrier and continues to invest in customer service improvements, ensuring passengers experience the highest standards of hospitality and comfort.
Ethiopian Airlines Group (Ethiopian) has become one of the fastest-growing and largest airline brands on the continent.
With seventy-eight years of successful operations, Ethiopian has established itself as a leading carrier in Africa, known for its efficiency and operational success.
The airline operates the youngest and most modern fleet in Africa, serving more than 150 domestic and international passenger and cargo destinations across five continents.
The airline is also pursuing a multi-hub strategy with hubs in Lomé, Togo, in partnership with ASKY Airlines; in Lilongwe, Malawi, with Malawi Airlines; and in Lusaka, Zambia, with Zambia Airways.
Last July, in a significant development, Ethiopian Airlines has signed a technical advisory and consultancy contract with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants (Shair and Partners), in collaboration with the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, to design and supervise the construction of a Mega Airport City at Abusera in Bishoftu city.
This ambitious project, located just 40 kilometers from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, aims to revolutionize air travel in Ethiopia and across the continent.
The new airport is expected to handle 110 million passengers annually upon completion, quadrupling the current capacity of Bole International Airport.
The project will be completed in phases, with the first phase anticipated to be operational by 2029.
This initial phase will have the capacity to handle 60 million passengers annually, nearly triple the number currently managed by Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, which was Africa’s busiest airport in 2022.
The Mega Airport City will feature a 1.1 million square meter terminal with passenger facilities, 126,190 square meters of airline support facilities, and over 100,000 square meters of cargo and airport support facilities.
The airport will also include an associated airfield and other essential infrastructure. Strategically located at a lower elevation than the current hub in Addis Ababa, the new airport will provide improved operational conditions for aircraft.
In recognition of its contributions to the aviation industry, Ethiopian Airlines received a prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from U.S. President Joe Biden on August 8, 2024.
This award acknowledges the airline’s outstanding service to U.S. citizens over the past 25 years, cementing its status as Africa’s largest and most successful airline.
