BEIRUT (AP) — Authorities say at least 23 bodies have been recovered after an Ethiopian Airlines jet plunged into the Mediterranean Sea after takeoff.
The Boeing 737 had about 90 people aboard when it was seen going down in flames minutes after leaving the airport in Beirut, Lebanon early today.
Helicopters and naval ships have been searching for survivors amid high waves and heavy rain, but no one has been found alive. Pieces of the plane and debris have been washing ashore, including passenger seats, a fire extinguisher and bottles of medicine.
The cause of the crash is not immediately known, though Lebanon's president says terrorism is not suspected. Lebanon has been slammed by stormy weather since Sunday, with crackling thunder, lightning and driving rain.
The plane was en route to Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa (AHD'-ihs AHB'-uh-buh). An embassy official says the passengers include the wife of France's ambassador to Lebanon.
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<<CUT …242 (01/24/10)>> 00:10 "since Sunday night"
Elizabeth Kennedy
AP Correspondent Elizabeth Kennedy reports officials are still investigating the cause of the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines plane into the sea.
<<CUT …243 (01/24/10)>> 00:06 "since late Sunday"
Elizabeth Kennedy
AP Correspondent Elizabeth Kennedy reports investigators are saying that they don't think there was any terrorism connected to the jetliner crash.
<<CUT …244 (01/24/10)>> 00:05 "as domestic help"
Elizabeth Kennedy
AP Correspondent Elizabeth Kennedy reports an Ethiopian Airlines jet with some 90 people on board has crashed into the sea.
<<APPHOTO GFX852 (01/24/10)>>
: Map locates Beirut, Lebanon, where a plane heading to Ethiopia took off, went off radar and likely crashed into the Mediterranean Sea
<<APPHOTO XGK113 (01/25/10)>>
: Cars arrive at Beirut airport in a stormy weather in Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 25, 2010. An Ethiopian Airlines plane carrying 90 people crashed into the Mediterranean Sea early Monday just minutes after takeoff from Beirut, Lebanon's transportation minister said.The cause was not immediately known. But police ruled out terrorism and said the crash was likely weather-related. Beirut has seen heavy rain and lightning since Sunday.
