Ethiopian Airlines flight crashes with 157 people on board

Ethiopian Airlines spokesman confirms a flight has crashed with 149 passengers and eight crew members on board.

According to its press release, flight ET302 lost contact at 8:44 a.m. local time, six minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport at 8:38 a.m. en route to the Kenyan capital Nairobi. 

The crashed aircraft is a Boeing 737-800MAX.

The airline said there are no current numbers on possible causalities and search and rescue work is underway for survivors and its staff will assist to rescue workers at the scene.

Following the incident, Ethiopian Prime Minister's office, on behalf of the government and its people, has posted a condolence message on Twitter. 

(CGTN)