Seven years after Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed, Yasser Bagersh of Prologue Communications recounts his role in creating the memorial park at the site. Hired by Boeing in 2020, he organized the first memorial and oversaw the permanent monument's six-year construction to support victims' families.
Yasser Bagersh, founder of Prologue Communications, was hired by Boeing in 2020 to organize the first memorial for victims of Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302, which crashed seven years earlier. The site featured a large hole and lacked infrastructure, yet his team set up tents for roughly 1,500 attendees despite a rough road from Addis Ababa. Blake Emergency Services managed remains collection, DNA testing, and family liaison from days after the crash. “I felt like I had been thrown into a pit of fire,” Bagersh said, amid high emotions between families, Boeing, and Ethiopian Airlines. After the event, stakeholders including Boeing, Ethiopian Airlines, and families agreed on a permanent monument. Securing government permits and aligning on design proved challenging, taking six years total. The Addis Ababa Architecture Association, with Ethiopian Airlines and families, selected top designs; Alebel Desta Consulting Architects and Engineers won, with input from international experts. Families chose the final design, then Elmi Olindo Contractors was picked for construction, overseen by ZIAS and financially managed by Turner and Townsend, whom Boeing hired. Boeing funded the entire project without compromises. On March 10, the seventh anniversary—significant in Ethiopian Orthodox tradition for peace with loss—saw the annual memorial and inauguration of a church built by families opposite the park. March 11 featured a panel discussion with architect Alebel, family member Samira Eissa, Bagersh, Elmi representatives, and Blake. Despite agendas and lawsuits, all focused on families' needs. Bagersh called it a 'spiritual calling,' though it took a personal toll, leading to his spinal surgery from stress. He reflected on cultural mourning differences, hoping families find peace. The park symbolizes the tragedy and invites personal reflection.
