As investigators begin to pick through what little remains of Ethiopian Airlines flight ET 302, the names and the nationalities of those on board each tell a story of individual tragedy and loss.

Among the 157 dead were 19 United Nations staff, and other international delegates on their way to Nairobi for a major environment conference. A total of 32 Kenyans died.

There were doctors, aid workers, environmentalists, academics, a famous Nigerian writer, and the former secretary general of Kenya's Football Association. Children and tourists were among the dead.

Focus is now on the cause of the crash. It's the second Boeing 737 Max to go down shortly after take-off in five months - and it was a new plane.

Ethiopian Airlines has grounded its fleet of the aircraft, as has China saying it wants an assurance from Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration that it is safe to fly.