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Black box data rule out sabotage of
crashed plane, says Lebanon
A COMBO image shows underwater
photos of parts
of the Ethiopian Airlines plane which crashed into the
Mediterranean, during a news conference held by
Lebanon’s Minister of Public Works and Transport
Ghazi Aridi, at Beirut airport yesterday. — Reuters
BEIRUT —
Black box data show sabotage cannot be
blamed for the crash of an Ethiopian airliner that killed 90 people when it
plunged into the sea off Beirut last month, a Lebanese minister said
yesterday. Transport Minister Ghazi Aridi said the conclusion was reached
based on a preliminary report of technical information found in the flight
data recorder following expert analysis in France.
The data "showed that all the aircraft's instruments functioned well until
it crashed, which rejects the hypothesis of an act (of sabotage) involving
an explosion," Aridi told a news conference at Beirut airport. His comments
came after the office of Information Minister Tareq Mitri issued a statement
saying "there is absolutely no evidence an act of sabotage or a terrorist
act."
There have been conflicting reports as to whether the passenger jet exploded
while airborne or after it hit the water. The Lebanese government had
already ruled out sabotage and pilot error as causes of the crash, but
Ethiopian Airlines said on Wednesday that it could not reject any factor,
including foul play.
Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409 plunged into the Mediterranean Sea shortly
after takeo-ff from Beirut airport on January 25 during a fierce storm.
The Boeing 737-800 was bound for Addis Ababa with 83 passengers and seven
crew on board. No survivors were found and searchers have been struggling to
recover bodies as most victims are believed to be still strapped to their
seats. — AFP |
