(BBC) — The “black box” flight recorders from a passenger jet which crashed off the coast of Lebanon two days ago have been found, officials say.
A search team located the recorders from the Ethiopian Airlines flight just over 1.3km (0.8 miles) underwater, 10km west of the capital, Beirut.
The search team is now trying to retrieve them, Lebanese security officials said.
All 90 people on board the flight are presumed dead following the crash.
At least 24 bodies have been pulled from the sea so far.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409, bound for Addis Ababa, crashed into the Mediterranean minutes after take-off from Beirut at 0237 (0037 GMT) during a severe thunderstorm on Monday.
Witnesses said they saw the plane plummet into the sea in flames.
The international search operation has included Lebanese navy troops and the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) as well as US navy destroyer USS Ramage and a civilian vessel from Cyprus with sonar equipment.
The cause of the crash is not yet known, however Lebanese officials have said the jet did not fly in the direction instructed by the Beirut control tower.
The officials said the pilot had been asked to correct his course, but turned in the opposite direction.
Seven crew and 83 passengers were on board the Boeing 737-800. Most were Lebanese or Ethiopian.
Marla Pietton, the wife of the French ambassador in Beirut, was among those on board.
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FORUM | 8 Comments
“The cause of the crash is not yet known, however Lebanese officials have said the jet did not fly in the direction instructed by the Beirut control tower.” The Lebanese are liars and jealous because the Ethiopian Air Lines is a successful Air Line.Just before the black box was found they talked trash, not to mention the treatment our people get there.I think Lebanon should be avoided from future flights for the Air Line
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January 28th, 2010 at 9:54 AM
I am really happy to hear that the black box was found. I think that will tell a lot about how the lebanese flight controlers had instructed captain Habtamu banti. It can also give valueable information about the weather and flight conditions at that moment. Just to say a couple of words here, I went to school with Habtamu Benti and also attended Addis Ababa university natural science department at arat killo in the early 80′s. He was one of the brightest and intelegent student at the time. I can’t blieve Lebanese could come with such allegation saying that the pilot did not respond to their instructions, when their real motive to couse such destruction is well known. Shame on you Lebanon, When are you guys stop the killing and abusing Ethiopians in your own country. Ethiopia has received more dead bodies from Lebanon in the past couple of years, but now has gone to the level of saboutaging international flights. Let the black box speaks first and we will see. I don’t think Ethiopians will let you get away with it.
Lemessa Negassa
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January 29th, 2010 at 9:22 PM
why officials give their reduclous assumpion before the black box found? it is not fair. u officialls don’t give bewilder message to our citizen. God bless Ethiopia!!!!!!!!
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January 30th, 2010 at 1:27 AM
Mr Flight Controler please tell us about the truth.
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January 30th, 2010 at 5:22 AM
Iwant to know what they found on the black box. Please let us know the truth. thank you .God bless ETHIOPIA AND AN ETHIOPIAN.
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January 31st, 2010 at 12:16 PM
The governments involved need to explain why their ships, The Universalchallenger and the Maria S. Marin, were/are operating in the area before during and after the crash with their transponders TURNED OFF.
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February 1st, 2010 at 10:47 PM
Instead of showing an illusion that the Lebaneese people are liars and jealous, it would be more respectful to honorate those soldiers and teams that are facing the bad weather conditions in order to retreive the missed persons (Lebaneese, Ethiopian and others) and the black box to clarify one for all the real reasons of the crash.
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February 7th, 2010 at 3:49 AM
We lebanese don’t and never mistreat any African nation. Our citizens have always tried to better their country of residence if it was ethupia or any other country. The truth hurts, it was your plane; your pilot; your responsibilty. Why would you blame the lebanese people and lebanon with such accusations. You seem to have a lot of hate for the lebanese from the way your talking. GOD Bless the LEBANESE and the ethiopians that died in the crash.
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February 14th, 2010 at 10:54 PM