The Ethiopian Airlines jet which crashed into the sea shortly after taking off from Beirut Airport on Monday was allegedly previously the property of Ryanair. Witnesses say that the jet burst into a ball of flames as it crashed into the sea. All ninety passengers on board are thought to have been killed. Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s chef executive said that the company had sold the Boeing 737 in April last year. The aircraft was eight-years-old and last underwent routine maintenance checks on Christmas Day. During its seven years in service the 737 logged 17,750 hours of flying time. A number of plane spotters have come forward saying that they have records of seeing the plane at British airports between 2002 and 2009. The Irish Aviation Authority has also said that the aircraft with serial number 29935 was previously owned by the budget airline.

Mr. O’Leary has said that there is no way that he can be held responsible for the tragedy. He said that second hand aircraft were like second hand cars, the previous owner cannot be held responsible for an accident that happens eleven months after the vehicle has been sold. He also pointed out that no one yet has any idea what happened to cause the catastrophe. Army officials are still searching for the black-box recorder and gathering up the aircraft debris which is coming ashore. Finding any survivors of the crash is extremely unlikely and thirty-four bodies have already been pulled out of the water. Among the dead are two British men.