Legendary Ethiopian Pilot Captain Alemayehu Abebe passed away at 93
In other parts of the world such personalities would have been accorded the title and privilege of "Hall of Fame", not only in Ethiopia but across the whole of Africa and beyond.Captain Alemayehu Abebe, Africa’s first pilot to fly 720 jet passed away at the age of 93, reported Voice of America Amharic Service. He was ill for a few days.
He is survived by six children and four grand children.
His funeral will be held on Saturday at 2:00 pm local time at Petros Wo Paulos church. The mass service will take place at Legehar Catholic Church, added the report by VOA Amharic, citing captain Alemayehu’s long time colleague, Colonel Araya Maru.
According Ethiopian Airlines’ inflight agazine, Selamta, he flew first commercial aircraft in 1957 when he made his solo flight as captain. The magazine added : “Before coming to ET, Captain Alemayehu taught Colonel Semret Medhane in the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force. As the captain’s first student, Col. Semret claims that he taught Capt. Alemayehu how to teach. When they both came to ET, says Capt. Alemayehu with a laugh, “He came in as management, and my student became my boss.”
But he was neglected by his own home country and the rest just followed the suite.