Ethiopian Airlines crash: Aid worker Sam Pegram 'among victims'

Sam Pegram was an intern working for the Norwegian Refugee Council, the organisation says

A UK aid worker was among nine Britons killed in the Ethiopian Airlines crash, the BBC has been told.

Sam Pegram, of Lancashire, was on board the plane when it crashed shortly after taking off from Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) told the BBC.

The Boeing 737 Max 8 was flying to Nairobi when it came down on Sunday with 157 people on board.

Geneva-based Mr Pegram, 25 and from Penwortham, was an NRC intern.

The plane crashed near the town of Bishoftu, 60km (37 miles) south-east of the capital at 08:44 local time (05:44 GMT).

Among those on board were 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, nine Ethiopians and nine Britons, of whom two were dual nationals travelling on non-British passports.

Ethiopian policemen stand at the scene of the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 plane crash site

The Lancashire Evening Post reported Mr Pegram had attended Runshaw College in Leyland before going on to study at Leeds University and for a masters degree at the University of York.

It quoted his mother Deborah, who said: "Sam was so looking forward to going to Nairobi. He loved the work he was doing.

"We can't believe this has happened. We're totally devastated."

Paying tribute on Facebook, Mr Pegram's former school Penwortham Priory Academy said: "Many of our current staff taught Sam and will remember him with great fondness.

"We send our deepest condolences to Sam's family and friends at what will be a terribly difficult time."

The University of Leeds where Mr Pegram completed an International Relations degree said he was "a compassionate and kind person".

Dr Gordon Clubb said: "I've never been so proud of a former student - he had a real drive to help others."