Canadian woman, 24, headed to UN conference among dead in Ethiopian Airlines crash

A young Winnipeg activist, originally from the Toronto area, is among 18 Canadians who died in an Ethiopian Airlines crash that claimed 157 lives.

The plane crashed moments after taking off in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa Sunday morning. It was bound for Nairobi, Kenya. The victims were from 35 countries and included United Nations staff, authorities said. 

Danielle Moore, 24, was among a group headed to a United Nations environmental conference. 

Moore posted to social media on Saturday as she departed for her trip: "I'm so excited to share that I've been selected to attend and am currently en route to the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya with United Nations Association in Canada."

"She always strived to make the world a better place," Moore's brother, David Moore, said via Facebook Messenger. Moore's family lives in the Toronto area, where she grew up. 

Another relative posted that she was "profoundly saddened that this bright light has been snuffed out so quickly. My love and thoughts to all families affected." 

Moore worked in Winnipeg at the charity Canada Learning Code.

Members of Winnipeg's Ethiopian community mourned the losses of life on Sunday, planning a prayer service to take place in the coming days.

"It's very sad news, for us it's a big disaster," said Ali Saeed, a founding member of the Ethiopian Society of Winnipeg. 

"I just want to pass my condolences to those people who lost their loved one. And it's a sad day for us here in Manitoba ... and also it's a sad day for all Ethiopians all over the world. For us, it's a big disaster."

"It's just very hard and heartbreaking," said Worku Getahun, a member of Manitoba's Ethiopian community living in Brandon. 

He said some community members left Brandon for Ethiopia last week, and he worries for them now. He said it's a beautiful time of year to visit Ethiopia, as it's summer there now. 

"I'm just putting myself and those family members, citizens who lost their family members in that crash ... Just trying to process what they are going through right now. And it's very hard," he said.

Watch as people gather at the scene of the crash: 

Ethiopian Airlines flight crashes, killing all 157 on board

6 years ago

Duration 0:58

People gather at the scene of the crash near Bishoftu, Ethiopia, where a search and rescue operation is underway.

Other Canadian victims include Carleton University professor Pius Adesanmi, Edmonton woman Amina Ibrahim Odowa, 33, and her five-year-old daughter Sofia Abdulkadir and Derick Lwugi, an accountant from Calgary.