Crash site of Ethiopian Airlines that killed 157 people [Pictures]

People walk at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash, near the town of Bishoftu, southeast of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia March 10- 2019. REUTERSTiksa Negeri

An Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed on Sunday was carrying passengers from more than 30 countries, the airline’s CEO told journalists.

He said they included 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, nine Ethiopians, eight Italians, eight Chinese citizens, eight Americans, seven British citizens, seven French citizens, six Egyptians, five Dutch citizens, four Indians, four people from Slovakia, three Austrians, three Swedes, three Russians, two Moroccans, two Spaniards, two Poles and two Israelis.

People walk past a part of the wreckage at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash near the town of Bishoftu southeast of Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Belgium, Indonesia, Somalia, Norway, Serbia, Togo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda and Yemen each had one citizen onboard.

Four of those onboard were listed as using United Nations passports and their nationalities were not immediately clear.

A passenger safety instruction card is seen at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash- near the town of Bishoftu- southeast of Addis Ababa- Ethiopia

He also said the Pilot of crashed Ethiopian airlines flight had an excellent flying record and that the plane had no known technical problems.

A general view shows the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash near the town of Bishoftu southeast of Addis Ababa Ethiopia

He however, revealed that the Ethiopian airlines pilot had reported difficulties and asked for permission to turn back.

-Addtional reporting by Reuters