Tadias Magazine

10 Responses to “Was The Doomed Ethiopian Plane Formerly Owned by Ryanair?”

1. 1 Arif Jan 27th, 2010 at 6:21 am

   What? Does Ethiopian Airlines buy second-hand planes? I am very surprised. I always thought ET bought brand new planes from Boeing. Is it not what the Boeing official was trumpeting last week when his company signed a deal with ETH for $700 million for 10 brand new 737 jets? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with leasing planes (many companies in the world do it, including here in the U.S.), but buying from this guy Michael O’Leary is a mistake. Plus, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that used planes are more prone to accidents. But Mr. O’Leary is special. He is a brilliant but ruthless businessman, one of the richest in his country, by leasing planes and using the hell out of them until they wear and tear and then turning around and selling it to third world customers. Because he does not really give a hoot what happens. His only concern is the bottom-line for his rather unethical business practices. He is also known to exaggerate stories for publicity purposes, that’s why I think he is bragging about this one as well. If it was not for the confirmation from The Irish Aviation Authority, I would take what O’Leary is up to with grain of salt. But nonetheless, he is not to blame for this accident, it is the fools that bought the plane to blame. Having said that, however, what a shame to hear the Lebanese transportation minster trying to blame the Ethiopian pilot with 20 years of experience for the crash without reviewing the black box and without completing the investigation. I think they are covering up something. My instincts tell me that the plane was blown up. I hope I am wrong!

2. 2 Hannibal Jan 27th, 2010 at 7:40 am

   Michael O’Leary of Ryanair is notorious and infamous in the airlines industry.

   Any way here is what I (learned) about him from (wikipedia): “O’Leary has a reputation for loose talk in the airline industry and among its regulators. Many press articles have often described him as arrogant, and prone to making comments which he later undercuts. He has been extravagantly outspoken in his public statements, sometimes resorting to personal attacks and foul language. His abrasive management style, ruthless pursuit of cost-cutting and his explicitly hostile attitude towards corporate competitors, airport authorities, governments, unions and customers has become a hallmark. He was reported to have been aggressive and hostile in dealings with a woman who was awarded free flights for life in 1988. He recently was forced to retract a claim that Ryanair had cut emissions of carbon dioxide by half over the past five years. O’Leary has been reported to have impersonated a journalist in an attempt to find information passed on to a newspaper following a safety incident on a Ryanair flight. One advantage of this controversial approach is the huge free publicity it generates: the comments are often made in the context of a new route launch, or special offer. News programmes with high ratings report these often memorable and controversial statements.”

   I have read some books dealing with him. The statement mentioned above is some what accurate. Thus, even though his motive is not clear in this instance, I think we should not give much weight to what he said.

3. 3 Jara Jan 27th, 2010 at 11:41 am

   My god. This immense tragedy should serve as a wake up call for the ET family. Please for the sake of safety, immediately stop the practice of leasing planes. Just stick with with new planes from Boeing going forward please. In regards to the crash, I agree 100% with the above comment that the plane was probably brought down by sabotage, which the Lebanese officials were quick to dismiss within minutes of the accident without an investigation. That makes me suspicious too. Why would an experienced jet pilot suddenly veer off the the opposite direction than what was communicated by flight control? What are the reasons that caused him to do that? Was there a struggle in the cockpit? Were there hijackers? Were there nut jobs on the plane like the Nigerien bomber? How do we know that they did not use our plane as a successful test of underwear bombing? After all, we are poor therefore an easy target for dress rehearsal of a much bigger evil plans against the west. How do you explain “the ball of fire” in the sky? These are pertinent questions that must be answered. The secret answer lies inside the black box.

4. 4 Saba Jan 27th, 2010 at 1:12 pm

   One way or another the truth will come out. They said the Black Box was found. Did any body have any info. on that? I have the same questions like Jara, how on earth 20 years experienced pilot fly the opposite direction, unless some thing happened that forced him to do that? We all have a lot in our mind, but lets wait till they find that black box. We’ll continue to fly the safest Airline in Africa, Ethiopian.

   God bless the victims’ families and Ethiopian crew.

5. 5 elmo Jan 27th, 2010 at 5:09 pm

   Story just gets stranger and stranger….

   ‘Sabotage’ Not Ruled Out Altogether in Ethiopian Plane Crash
   By Sean Osborne Tuesday, January 26, 2010
   The Lebanese French-language newspaper L’Orient Le Jour reports today that there were eyewitnesses to the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409. These eyewitnesses describe an explosion onboard the aircraft. Following the explosion the witnesses describe the aircraft breaking apart into four pieces which then transformed into a fireball that plunged into the Mediterranean Sea. The same report also speaks to strong indications that one passenger associated with the terrorist group Hezbollah was on board the aircraft: http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/19391

6. 6 Meron Haile Feb 2nd, 2010 at 4:29 am

   I wonder why ET still insist to buy 737 as it has many faulty records else where. If you look at the engine size I doubt weather it adopts to the harsh climatic conditions in long routes. They have to buy big 767 that can with stand the ever changing climatic condtion such as sudden turbulance. It is better to avoid flying in stromy wheather even if you have to delay schedule, b/c human life is more worthy than short-term profit.

   As to ET409 air crush i stongly look forward to hear the results of the balck box.

1. 1 Ethiopian Plane Black Box Found, Toll Reaches 32 at Tadias Magazine Pingback on Jan 27th, 2010 at 4:16 am
2. 2 UPDATE: Ethiopian Airliner Black Box hunt continues at Tadias Magazine Pingback on Jan 31st, 2010 at 2:15 am
3. 3 Ethiopia Warns Lebanon Over Plane Crash Investigation at Tadias Magazine Pingback on Feb 24th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
4. 4 Ethiopian Airlines ‘Interested’ in Report of Bomb Aboard Crashed Jet at Tadias Magazine Pingback on Mar 31st, 2010 at 5:51 pm