Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 - Fate of The Passengers and Crew

Fate of The Passengers and Crew

The passengers originated from the following countries:

Of the passengers, 42 boarded in Bombay, including:

• Three Americans
• Nine Nigerians
• Nine Sri Lankans
• 19 Indians

The rest of the passengers boarded in Addis Ababa.

One hundred twenty-five of the 175 passengers and crew members were killed, as well as all three hijackers. Many of the passengers who died survived the initial crash, but they had disregarded or did not hear Leul's warning not to inflate their life jackets inside the aircraft, causing them to be pushed against the ceiling of the fuselage by the inflated life jackets when water flooded in. Unable to escape, they drowned. An estimated 60 to 80 passengers, strapped to their seats, presumably drowned.

Leul and Yonas both survived. For his actions, Leul was awarded the Flight Safety Foundation Professionalism in Flight Safety Award.