BEIRUT, LEBANON – An Ethiopian Airlines plane with 90 people on board crashed into the sea early Monday just minutes after takeoff from Beirut.

The Boeing 737-800 was scheduled to operate from Beirut to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, and lost contact with the Lebanese air controllers shortly after take off. The flight departed at 02:35 Lebanese time from Beirut International Airport.

According to the airline, the flight carried 82 passenger plus 8 Ethiopian Crew members. Out of the total passengers, 23 are Ethiopian, 51 Lebanese, one Turkish, one French, one British, one Russian, one Canadian, one Syrian, and one Iraqi national.

Boeing issued a statement late tonight that said “Boeing has learned of the crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 409 near Beirut, Lebanon. Boeing has not received confirmation on the conditions of the passengers and crew members on board. Our hopes and prayers are with all who are affected by this accident. Boeing is coordinating with the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board to assist Lebanese authorities in the investigation.”

While the cause of the crash was not immediately known, the weather may have been a factor with moderate thunder storms and rain in the area at the time.

The airline said an investigative team has already been dispatched to the scene and will release further information as it becomes available.

Ethiopian Airlines is one of the largest and fastest growing airlines in Africa and made its maiden flight to Cairo in 1946.