The Ethiopian chief, speaking to journalists during a press conference on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, accused Lebanese officials of providing information that was unfounded and misleading concerning the ET409 accident even before the findings of the investigation have been announced.

The black box of aircraft that comprises the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) was transported to France for investigation on February 10, 2010.

"I have no right to tell you what the recorder holds until the investigation is completed," Girma Wake, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, said. "We are waiting for the report."

The investigation team will follow the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annex 13 while conducting the investigation. The annex states that the preliminary report that will be issued contains what is found in the black box as it is without any alteration.

"So long as the ICAO Annex 13 is followed we will have no problem disclosing the findings," Girma said.

The purpose of the investigation is not to find fault with anyone but to ensure that future aviation is safe, according to Girma.

Until all analysis is done one cannot say what the problem was, he insisted.

France was selected by the Lebanese officials for the investigation, the CEO explained.

"Providing that everyone gets equal access to the information, we do not have a problem with the country picked," he said.

Currently, almost all bodies have been found and are being transported to their respective countries. Ninety people were on board the aircraft that went down in the wee morning hours on January 25, moments after takeoff from Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport.

Source: AddisFortune