Pilot of ill-fated Ethiopian plane was Kenyan born, mother from Mombasa

The family of Captain Yared Tessema Getachew (pictured), who was at the command of the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight, ET 302 are mourning the death of their son.

Getachew was born of a Kenyan mother, Dr Rayan Shapi, of Mombasa and Dr Getachew Tessema who originally came from Ethiopia. They reside in Spring Valley, Nairobi.

Dr Shapi’s family resides in Mombasa where the victim’s uncle, Khalid Shapi, works as a managing director at Pollmans Tours and Safaris Limited.

Reports indicate Getachew, 29, schooled at Oshwal High School in Nairobi, then trained as a pilot with Ethiopian Airlines. He was not married and both his parents are dentists.

“We are deeply saddened by the news of the accident and the passing on of our own Yared and his entire passengers,” the family, said in a statement.