The impact of an international airline tragedy hit home for a Bermuda resident, who tragically lost five family members when that Ethiopian airline flight crashed shortly after take-off on Sunday.

Paul Njoroge’s wife, mother-in-law and three children were aboard the Ethiopian Airlines jet that crashed yesterday, killing 157 people.

Mr Njoroge, an investment manager at Butterfield Bank, lost wife Caroline Karanja, mother-in-law Ann Wangui Karanja, son Ryan Njoroge Njuguna, 7, and daughters Kerry Paul Wanjiku Njuguna, 4, and Rubi Wangui Njuguna, 7 months. All five family members were Kenyan.

He was a member of the Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Premier David Burt, National Security Minister Wayne Caines and Finance Minister Curtis Dickinson visited Mr Njoroge at his home yesterday.

Speaking in the House of Assembly today, Mr Burt said: “As a father and a husband, I cannot imagine how he must feel during this time.

“He is in our thoughts as he travels back home to Kenya.”

In a statement issued this afternoon, the African Community in Bermuda said in a statement: “We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for the expression of condolences and outpouring of support for our brother at this unfortunate time in his life.

“We are deeply heartened at the incredible level of support and concern Paul’s employers Butterfield Bank have extended to him.

“They worked with us through the night and this morning to ensure his travel back home to Kenya could be as smooth and worry free for him as possible.”

All 149 passengers and eight crew members were killed when the Boeing 737 MAX 8 flight en route from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, Kenya, went down.

Reports indicate there were 32 Kenyans, 18 Canadians, eight Americans and seven British nationals on board.

A condolence book was opened to the public today, at the offices of the Honorary Consulate of Ghana at Suite 6, 129 Front Street, Hamilton, tomorrow, from noon to 2pm.