Lebanese officials hiding evidence from ET-409 probe

A senior Ethiopian minister said today that Lebanese officials have left out crucial evidence from a report into the recent Ethiopian Airlines crash.

A preliminary report from the investigation into why ET-409 plunged into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after take-off was dispatched early this week to concerned states and institutions.

But Ethiopian Transport and Communication Minister Diriba Kuma said it does not include crucial information: “Evidence that was first included in the report and could lead to discovery of the cause of the accident was later omitted.”

According to the minister, eyewitness accounts, such as the one that said the plane was blown up in mid-air, were left out.

“Crucial information the Ethiopian investigation team asked to be included in the report was also not included,” Diriba said.

A high level Ethiopian delegation led by Foreign Affairs Minister Seyoum Mesfin and Diriba was dispatched to Lebanon shortly after the crash. According to the minister, the lack of cooperation at the time of the rescue attempt eased after talks and Lebanon promised to conduct the investigation cooperatively.

But Diriba told Capital: “Despite the promise we are now concerned with the lack of cooperation from the Lebanese officials.”

When asked what could be behind the omissions, Diriba said it could be part of efforts by Lebanese authorities to deflect pressure from the victims’ families by ruling out any responsibility on their part.

The minister criticised any attempts to manipulate the investigation for political benefits. He said all efforts should be focused on finding out the cause of the accident and devising ways to ensure a similar event does not happen again.

He also said he hopes Lebanon officials will adhere to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) codes and the cause of the accident will be declared as per international regulations after the ongoing analysis of the discovered data.

“We will not accept any reports that do not follow the ICAO codes,” Diriba cautioned.

All bodies of the victims from ET-409 accident have now been recovered and identified.

Ethiopian Airlines on Tuesday said arrangements are being made to repatriate bodies.

The Beirut to Addis Ababa flight crashed on January 25. No survivors were found from the 90 passengers and crew on board

Source: CapitalEthiopia