Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 Crash (ET-AVJ)

Flight Details and Departure On March 10, 2019, at 05:38 UTC, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737-8 MAX with registration ET-AVJ, departed Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (HAAB) for Nairobi, Kenya. The aircraft carried 157 people: two flight crew members, five cabin crew, one IFSO, and 149 passengers. The takeoff roll and initial climb were normal, with engines stabilizing at approximately 94% N1. ## In-Flight Anomalies Shortly after liftoff, the left angle-of-attack (AOA) sensor began providing erroneous data, triggering the left stick shaker. The left AOA readings diverged significantly from the right, eventually reaching 74.5° while the right indicated 15.3°. The aircraft experienced multiple uncommanded nose-down trim activations. At 05:40:50, the captain reported a flight control problem and requested to maintain 14,000 feet, which was approved. The crew attempted to counteract the nose-down pitch using manual electric trim and control column forces, but the aircraft continued to descend. ## Impact and Aftermath The aircraft impacted terrain 28 nautical miles southeast of Addis Ababa near Ejere village at approximately 05:44 UTC. The impact created a crater approximately 10 meters deep, 28 meters wide, and 40 meters long. All 157 people on board were fatally injured. The wreckage was found scattered over an area approximately 200 meters wide and 300 meters long, with most debris buried in the ground.