Ethiopian passenger plane crashes

An Ethiopian passenger plane with 90 people on board has crashed into the Mediterranean Sea after taking off from Beirut airport. It was a Boeing 737-800, Flight ET409. Witnesses say they saw a huge ball of flames in the sky, shortly after the plane took off.

The airline's chief executive said there was no word of survivors and at least 21 bodies have been found. The cause of the crash is not known yet, but the plane took off in a heavy rainstorm. Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said a sabotage act is unlikely.

The plane was carrying 82 passengers, and most of those on board were Lebanese or Ethiopian. There were also two Britons. Naval ships and helicopters are searching the crash site, and the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Lebanon has sent two helicopters and three ships, but officials say it is unlikely anyone will be found.

The wife of the French ambassador in Beirut, Marla Pietton was said to have been on the plane. In the airport's VIP lounge, relatives of the grief stricken passengers have gathered.

Beirut’s last major crash was in 1996, due to hijacking.

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