The Ethiopian Airlines management has confirmed that a retired Nigerian Ambassador, Abiodun Bashua, was among other nationalities aboard the ill-fated Ethiopian air which crashed shortly after taking off from the airport in Addis Ababa on Sunday, March 9, 2019.

TheLagostimes had earlier reported that the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 on a routine flight to Nairobi, Kenya crashed, with 149 passengers and eight crew members on board.

The Ethiopian airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet was en route to Nairobi, Kenya when it crashed, killing all passengers and eight crew on board.

The plane is the latest version of the Max 8 B737, described as the world’s bestselling modern passenger aircraft and one of the industry’s most reliable.

TheLagostimes gathered that Bashua was a retired Ambassador and on contract with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Kenya’s Transport Secretary, James Macharia, said passengers from at least 35 nations were aboard the Ethiopian airlines’ flight 302.

Meanwhile, it was also gathered that Nigerian-born Canadian scholar, Professor Pius Adesanmi, have been confirmed to be among the 157 passengers onboard.

Pius Adesanmi

U.S. aerospace giant, Boeing, said on Sunday it was “deeply saddened” about the deaths of all 157 people aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 and would provide technical assistance to find out why its aircraft crashed.

The brand new Boeing 737 which was delivered just last year was heading from Addis Ababa to Nairobi when it crashed.

“Boeing is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the passengers and crew on Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a 737 MAX 8 airplane,” the company said in a statement.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the families and loved ones of the passengers and crew on board and stand ready to support the Ethiopian Airlines team,” it said.