Stranded Ethiopian Airlines passengers leave

Passengers of Ethiopian Airlines have left having spent a night in Blantyre after their plane bound for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was involved in a minor accident at Chileka Airport.

A source at the airline confirmed all passengers left today.

“The passengers were booked at different hotels because many hotels were [fully reserved]. But we managed to find [rooms for them] at different hotels,” he said.

Ethiopian Airlines sent a bigger plane, Boeing 767 on Thursday which carries 230 passengers unlike the 164 seater Boeing 737 500 which was hit by a runaway bag trolleys.

Chileka Airport commandant Bosco Ng’oma refused to comment when asked who would bear the cost suffered by Ethiopian Airlines.

“Let me tell you that I have no comment regarding the accident,” he said and cut the line.

The trolleys which were used to load and offload the plane, disengaged from the towing tug and hit the engine of the plane, Boeing 737 500. The trolleys belong to Lilongwe Handling Company.