Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake has issued a scathing list of grievances against the Republic of Lebanon over the ET409 crash inquiry, as reported on Saturday, February 27, by Kaleyesus Bekele in the Ethiopian newspaper, The Reporter.
Charges against Lebanon include (1) denied access to the families of the Lebanese passengers who perished when ET409, a Boeing 737-800, crashed some 4 minutes after taking off from Beirut (BEY) last January 25; (2) denied examination of the recovered remains; (3) discrepancy in the number of bodies reported as initially recovered, 25 compared with the 14 that were actually available at the Beirut morgue; (4) denied access examining the recovered CVR; (5) accusations that the CVR had been tampered with and partially erased; (6) inadequate responses to questions posed to Lebanese officials; (7) denied access to the crash site to make first hand observations; (8) denied access to a transcript of an interview with a Lebanese army officer who swore that he observed the aircraft explode while aloft, and failure to produce that witness; (9) leaking of false and misleading information; (10) breaking an agreement to preserve confidentiality; and (11) obstructing the investigation and keeping the Ethiopian 13-member delegation composed of senior pilots, medical personnel and other professionals from full participation in the investigation process.
CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) Ethiopian Airlines CEO Girma Wake (AP Photo/Samson Haileyesus); (BELOW RIGHT) Lebanon's Transportation Minister Ghazi Aridi shows photographs from the wreckage of ET409 (AP Photo/Mahmoud Tawil); (BELOW LEFT) A cousin of Ethiopian Airlines plane crash victims Fuad and Abbas Jaber release balloons as she mourns on the beach in Khalde, south of Beirut, Lebanon, Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 (AP Photo/Hussein Malla); (BELOW RIGHT LOWER) Question Mark (Wikipedia/Common Usage/Public Domain)
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These are not minor annoyances or petty grievances. Both countries have apparently received a preliminary report from BEA, an agency of the French government that is analyzing the available data in its laboratories near Paris, and conducting field interviews. As Mr. Wake stated, "If someone uses political power to alter the theme of the report then we will discuss this."
Mr. Wake's language would make any diplomat grimace, because it is blunt and unfiltered. He went on to say at a press conference last Wednesday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, "It is not in line with what our two countries have signed for. Are we out for a big war? I hope the investigators will put some sense into the investigation and come out with a proper working system, thereby avoiding a war between nations, between authorities. I'm hoping that may not be necessary, but we are not ready to accept a conclusion made without a proper analysis."
Anyone who speaks of war, whether figuratively or not, is throwing down the gauntlet. It is obvious to this observer and others, that Mr. Wake has been pushed to his limits, and is expressing extreme frustration and betrayal.
As the CEO pointed out, "A lot of war has been going on in Lebanon, the whole area has been full of political turmoil; divisions within countries in the region. Because of that people can take their own wild guesses. The very fact it happened at Beirut airport at time when it is politically sensitive, does gives people to put their own thinking into it." What he was implying was sabotage, or some other terrorist act.
From the very start, Lebanon has ruled out terrorism. They first blamed violent thunderstorms, lightning, wind shear, and micro bursts, then implied that the incident was caused either by technical failure or human error.
For any outside observer, who is accustomed to following an accident investigation with daily briefings, photographs and displays of the evidence, independent technical analysis, media access, consistent statements, and above all transparency, the process within Lebanon is highly irregular, and potentially alarming.
Answers to simple questions would go far in clearing up ambiguities. These include: What was the
original departure clearance granted to ET409? Were there other aircraft, as we have uncovered, in the area? Why was ET409 allegedly given instructions to change course? Had it already been granted clearance to return to Beirut? Was Captain Habtamu Benti Negasa the Pilot in Command (PIC) at takeoff? If he was not flying the aircraft, at the first indication of a problem, did he issue the command "My Aircraft" to First Officer Alula Tamerat? Did Mr. Tamerat reply, "Your Aircraft, Captain", and hand off control. Were intelligence satellite surveillance operating in the area sending classified data to a third country that would have picked up anomalies, such as the highly classified and secretive National Security Administration? Why were there long delays between locating and retrieving both data recorders? Who had access to these recorders once recovered, and what was the chain of custody? Were there indications of burns or traces of nitrates on the bodies of the passengers? Did recovered pieces of the aircraft show an implosion, charring, or deformation not consistent with water impact?
Any investigative authority would ask these questions, and others. Eventually, they will have to be addressed, incorporated into findings, or eliminated as having no cause for this incident. Our coverage will continue as additional information becomes known.
We would like to hear your thoughts. Please leave comments below or by email and subscribe to get future updates.
Comments
WOW...thats all I can say. Look forward to your future info on this investigation.
Great coverage. You are really into this. Maybe a book?
let the blame game begin...
Why is it that it is only the Ethiopians who are the making accusations against the Lebanese government, when the BEA, which is conducting the investigation together with the NTSB and Boeing, have made no such accusations of the Lebanese government tampering with evidence and hiding evidence?
The BEA investigation leaks must really have struck a raw nerve with Ethiopian officials.
Great article. I see that you made good use of the comments I left yesterday on your previous blog referencing the Reporter's article. However, the author of the article doesn't attribute the allegations you enumerated to Mr. Girma Wake, but instead refers to "reliable sources", so I am not sure why you thought it they came from him.
Israeli reports have suggested that there was indeed an explpsion on board, and that bodies that have been recovered showed evidence of that fact. What are the Lebanese trying to hide by not being transparent in this ivestigation? Are they afraid that the terror groups running rampant in that country were involved in this disaster? Someone explain to me please how the son of the murdered Lebnese Prime Minister, now Prime Minister himself, has basically gone to bed with Hizbullah and serves as their mouthpiece? His father is obviously turning over in his grave!
I don’t care what you say meles he will never lets as dawn when it comes those layers wait and see. He will cline all Lebanon layers from Ethiopia.
this Case should be investigated very well.There must be something or someone behind it.
Reporter be good nvestigative journalism?
You Know well that next to your office Lebanon they open FedEx office at Bole . Lebanon mafia when they open FedEx office they the use for Money laundering and covert operation in your eye.
Great investigative reporting. Your articles are generating a lot of attention, which is wonderful. The questions you pose are good ones; I hope they can be answered and not swept under the proverbial rug.
Mr mem707 it is because Ethiopians are the ones concerned much about the 'truth',they have lost more and have nothing to cover but to uncover. and you can also see how the Lebanese authorities are handleing the case,which seems that they have something fishy to worry about.
Ethiopian insisted on one thing: to adhere to a common, accepted, standard code of conduct with the investigation. They didn't exclude any possible cause of the accident. In a stark contrast to the professional approach of the Ethiopians, the Lebanese declared in the first hour of the accident "sabotage/terrorism is ruled out." They hinted bad weather, technical problems, pilot error. Now they have chosen pilot error as the best possible outcome to cover their track it seems to me. They are responsible for a cover up of the investigation. Terrorism of some kind had taken place and they knew about it. Their behavior could only be understood as such. Justice will not always win we will wait and see what the investigators will say.
Getting nerves
I can believe it very strange haw they give this FedEx bisunse Lebanon they are corrupted and smugglers
Joel, as usual, great reporting. Something stinky is going on. Whether is's just public relations incompetence by the Lebanese official or something much more sinister, the whole thing stinks. Don't let it go until you get to the bottom of this stink, Joe. Thank You.
Great article. There is something fishy. The silence of international investigative body is deafening. However remote, the likelihood of sabotage calls the international communities (U.S in particular) scrutiny. Stay tuned folks
Like I said good reportng, but I agree with John from below. The allegations you listed in your report are not attrubuted to Mr. Girma in the Reporter. They are made in the Reprorter by a "reliable source". So I think you you made a boo-boo on that one. But Keep it up, like I said, something stinky is going on, whether it's just public realtions incompetence or something much more sinister.
I read this article again again, i can understand that there are a lot of questions which have be answered on the investigation. and why the Lebanon officials tried to appear with the photograph of plane while the Ethiopian officials were waiting for the result of investigation? I still believe that there is something behind which the Lebanon official wanted to hid.
why the Lebanese act like these. I'm sure not all of them, but the tendency of the culture generally in the middle east is that of pomp and circumstance, a complete disregard for human life. If not for oil all these pomp will not happen. let us see if the Arabs have any economy to speak of in 20 years. Fuel cells, Lithium-air batteries, graphene and other nano technologies will put the price of oil to 20 dollars. Unlike their cousins the jews they are unable to succeed in technology. all these buildings they put up in places like Dubai in an effort to become a financial center of the world/diversify will work only as far as oil is king. Once oil prices collapse no one want to go, say for example to Dubai for any price. The level of incompetence they show almost in everything they do is staggering. First was the domestic workers, now this disaster. It is offensive. Long live Israel our other country.
To all my readers, and especially those of you who have taken the time to leave comments, my thanks and appreciation to each and every one of you. Whether your remarks are critical or complimentary, I want you to know that I am grateful for them, and I learn much from them.
Regarding comments below by John, I did indeed follow up on your remarks in a previous dispatch. You are also absolutely right to point out that the Reporter article attributed many of the points that I mentioned to "reliable sources", rather than directly to Mr. Wake, as I did.
I would like to point out, not as an excuse or a justification, that while The Reporter, also known as the Ethiopian Reporter, is privately owned, it is funded by contributions from the political party which is in power within the Ethiopian government. Also, especially within diplomatic circles, "reliable sources" are sometimes used as proxies to convey information as back channels when others cannot openly comment. Continued...
great info here.
Continued from previous comments ...
I am not stating unequivocally that the "reliable sources" were used as a mouthpiece or proxy platform for Mr. Wake, and I should have clarified that distinction in my original dispatch.
Unless writing an editorial commentary, I try to keep my own opinions separate from that on which I am reporting. In this last story, I may have crossed that line and blurred the distinction between facts and opinions. If so, my regrets. I will do better moving forward.
This is an important story. First and foremost, it is a tragedy, and a great loss. It is also a still unresolved mystery, which may involve a crime. This needs to be determined. Finally, there are safety issues which affects all who travel by air.
Our direct questions to both governments have so far been ignored. We will continue to report on developments in this incident, while also resuming coverage on a whole universe of aviation related news events.
Thank you for following our repo
Nice job, keep it up your articles are really investigative and through, .... it is clear from the first day of the incident that the Lebanons are trying to hide something .... It is my hope that the investigation team won't be like the Leba. authorities.
BEA have to rely on the good will of the parties concerned. It cannot make police inquiries or accusations. For instance, if voice recordings have been erased, it will just say that they were not exploitable. It cannot force the Lebanese to give it access to aircraft parts or pathologists' reports on the victims' bodies.
The only party respecting the obligation of confidentiality is Boeing. The other two, notably Lebanon, keep leaking unconfirmed info, which poisons the atmosphere and makes the investigation very difficult. The Lebanese seem to be sabotaging the investigation.
Joel,
Good correction, Joel. That's what we expect from good reporters. I am confident you will get to the bottom of this stink. It's truly stinking to high heavens.
HI Joel,
Great Job!! Please keep pushing and let the truth shine!!! From the begining the way the Lebanese authorities handled the investigation process looks very fishy. It looks like as if there is something to hide. What is that? Please get to the bottom of it!!
The truth will come out no matter what it takes.May God give grace to those who give their time and energy even patience into this huge mystry.God cares for each perished soul and He will reveal the truth.
There are enough evidence to belive that Terrorist act is the cause of the accident.
Let me remind you of the chronology of the information from Lebanone:
after 1 hour of the accident-the lebanone government said that sabotage/terrorizem is ruled out (how comes they said that during this period in an area where terrorist act is most likely)
2. Rickage and recorder found after two days-but not retrived and reported fully even at present.
3. restriction/prohibition of ethiopian delegate on their participation on the cause of the accident.
Based on these fact and the information collected from various sources I would like to say that the all Government officals in Beriut should be charged in international court againist this lies and falasification of the reports.
to geez, what is wrong with you man ? Habesha nesh inde? tinish kenes argiw?!!!
I really really appreciate the journalist way of reporting the event and the questions he raised for critical analysis. Good Job Mr journalist.I think you made it clear enough. All the tips lead that there is some sort of attack or sabotage. I haven't seen or read such controversial airline accident so far.But finding the truth needs the strength of Ethiopians and their government.Ethiopian is sabotaged or shot down. No other reason can explain this wreckage
Dumb-ass ARABS. All they're good for is shooting and murder.
Thanks for repport
Your report is wonderful, real and fact analyses witch gives opportunity to others concerned world to protect civilians from baseless speculation witch encourages terrorists. I can assure you, every lies and speculation by individuals in Lebanon authority encourages terrorists. I can say that because - How they know it with in an hour weather it is terrorist act or not. Why they rule out terrorism acts. What is there evidence? Why they hide facts and lie every day? Why they speculate every day to sabotage technical teams and encouraging terrorists? Those are questionable to investigate what is really the behind of the crashed plane. I doubt as some individuals in Lebanon authority have some connection with terrorists link not the government but some individuals in Lebanon’s Authority. I can suggest my opinion to concerned world to se carefully and seriously such kind of statements. We don’t know, may be some individuals in Authority have some connection with terror
We will invade lebanos
Ow! great report. See Mr. Great journalist: 1) the plane was technically fit 3 weeks before the accident (proof by Boeing co.) and at the day of the flight (proof by Ethiopian Airlines Technical dep't). 2) The plane is very modern- so it could show hints if the way the plane headed was wrong or was facing bad weather- and of the recent type, not patched and not even serve longer so that it makes such a hearsay of technical problem as a to smell to much of the soil. 3) The pilot serves senior for the last 20 Years- not to be strongly blamed perhapse suspected to be misleaded by such a junior-knows-well type of problem. What happened was subbotage, terrorist plot-explossion. Any ways what ever the Lebanese officials said, (usually the doer of the wrong has gland of a fear to produce hearsay statements)the truth will truimph.
The investigation team must include all information including the statement given by individual Lebanon authority. We doubt as some individuals in Lebanon authority have some connection with terrorists link not the government but some individuals in Lebanon’s Authority. We don’t know, may be some individuals in Libanon Authority have some connection with terrorists. How they know it with in hour weather it is terrorist ac or not. Why they rule out terrorism acts. What is there evidence? Why they hide facts and lie every day? Why they speculate every day to sabotage technical teams and encouraging terrorists? Those are questionable for investigation.
The statement given by individual Lebanon authority seems calculated before the plane crashed. The investigation team must investigate all information including the statement given by individual Libanon Authority. There speculation started with in an hour after the Ethiopia airplane crashed until they try to sabotage investigation team and encouraging terrorism like alshebab, alkaieda… all there statements seems calculated before the Ethiopian plane crashed.
Great Job Joel, I would like to question the role of Boeng and NTSB in the investigation of the flight recorders. Also BEA, how can they conclude any thing from the CVR knowing that the expected duration of recording is not out there. They have to know that their efforts will mean nothing for mapping the secret. This where we may spit off BEA as an trusted internationl accident investigation firm, if what has been reported by theReporter holds true, that the Lebanese have saboutatged the CVR.
also what is the international community thinking about course of the invastigation?
thank you
It's a shame both to Lebanese government and International Aviation not to be true and clear and fast enough to resolve such Airline Catastrophe. We feel unsafe and unprotected.
Before shaming, insulting the arabs, invading Lebanon, praising the peace loving country of Israel or confirming the conspiracy theories and taking them as granted let's wait for the results of the investigation knowing that the always transparent American and Europeans insitutions and companies are involved in the investigations and have been since the first day. Mr. Wake is either too much frustrated and victimized or totally out of his mind turning this affair into a potential for war and exploiting Lebanon's negative perception in the west to his advantage. Something fishy on the Ehtiopian side too. Let's wait for the results before making easy hate statements against Lebanon.
Everybody knows muslims how to lie.
Before shaming, insulting the arabs, invading Lebanon, praising the peace loving country of Israel or confirming the conspiracy theories and taking them as granted let's wait for the results of the investigation knowing that the always transparent American and Europeans insitutions and companies are involved in the investigations and have been since the first day. Mr. Wake is either too much frustrated and victimized or totally out of his mind turning this affair into a potential for war and exploiting Lebanon's negative perception in the west to his advantage. Something fishy on the Ehtiopian side too. Let's wait for the results before making easy hate statements against Lebanon.
hey guys, lets go invade this little land of the morons, as anniversary celebration for the Adowa( tomorrow) . we did it to the fascists of Rome. Now to the filthy incompetent liers in Beirut.
Jocking guys and to make people think about Adowa. The Lebanese are our friends. Let's sort it out guys quick. I don't understand how all this controversy come about.
If the lebanon governement try to hide things as it seems now the victims of lebanon families should pressure their governement to some transparency. The problem is that their country is a divided one with muslims and chritians, it will be hard to find some responsible people out there with people having their own armies to influence the goivernmenet in that country.
Them are fighting words. Great list of comments here.
We know how lebanese are running so many fishy undertakings in their land as well as in western part of africa. These people are as shrewd as they are merciless.
They know damn well what happened. Why are there so many questions left unanswered? Why are the Lebanese so quick to throw around blame? What is taking so long to get answers or even an idea of what could be the cause? How come there is "vital information missing" on the CVR? They know it. They harbour terrorists and they throw blame around...tsk tsk. They know damn well who did it and they know damn well they are involved in this
What do u expect from Arabs, they are liers.
Hey, these camel eater animals are trying to be smart. How do you rule out terrorism when all of their leaders are terrerist and the Lebanese people eat human beings when they run out of camels. Why do you think many Asian and African workers are killed every in the country ? The answer is they eat them. They don't want to allow Ethiopian personels in the investigation, why ? What a shame! to do business with these people who have no grace or respect !
Great coverage. The plot thickens every day... unbelievable.
arabs are liers with little knowlegde of leying
Camels? there are no camels in lebanon. Human eaters? so much for hatered. If you think the lebanese are evil, then your comments make you as evil as they are. You are therefore the same...
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