This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Thursday 9 January 2020 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-760 (WL) |
| Owner/operator: | Ethiopian Airlines |
| Registration: | ET-ALN |
| MSN: | 33766/1757 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2005 |
| Engine model: | CFMI CFM56-7B |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Location: | Dire Dawa-Aba Tenna D Yilma Airport (DIR/HADR) -
 Ethiopia
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | Djibouti-Ambouli Airport (JIB/HDAM) |
| Dire Dawa-Aba Tenna D Yilma Airport (DIR/HADR) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Ethiopian Airlines flight ET363 was on approach to Dire Dawa Airport when it flew through a swarm of locusts. The windscreen was completely obscured and the wipers were not able to clean the windows. A go around was performed and the flight crew leveled off at 8500 ft. The pilot depressurized the aircraft and opened a side window to clean part of the window by hand.
A second approach was also aborted for the same reason. Again the pilots had to clean the aircraft window after leveling off at 8500 feet. The aircraft then diverted to Addis Ababa.
It appeared the nose section and engine inlet cowlings were covered in blood spatter from locusts.
Sources:
https://www.onthewingsaviation.com/2020/01/un-b737-de-ethiopian-airlines-atraviesa.html
Location
Media:
Un #B737 de #EthiopianAirlines ha quedado así tras atravesar un gran enjambre de langostas. Peor suerte han tenido dos pilotos que han fallecido en Pakistán mientras intentaban fumigar esta plaga
— On The Wings of Aviation (@OnAviation) January 12, 2020
➡️ https://t.co/M6KFOvHZt9 pic.twitter.com/ZJTahQFdJ5
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Jan-2020 17:29 | harro | Added |
| 12-Jan-2020 17:30 | harro | Updated [Location, Embed code, ] |
| 15-Jan-2020 20:49 | harro | Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation