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EgyptAir flight MS804: Hollande confirms crash – live updates EgyptAir flight MS804: Hollande confirms crash – live updates
(35 minutes later)
12.28pm BST
12:28
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has chaired a meeting of the country’s national security council.
His office issued this account of the meeting:
The meeting addressed the disappearance of the EgyptAir flight en route from Paris to Cairo. Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy presented a report detailing the information available so far on the plane’s disappearance. The National Security Council decided to continue search efforts through Egyptian aircraft and naval vessels and work on unraveling the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the plane at the soonest time possible in collaboration with countries including France and Greece. The council also directed the government to provide all assistance possible to the families of the passengers and crew. It also directed EgyptAir crisis center to follow up on the development of the situation and announce the latest information.
11.57am BST
11:57
Greece issues timeline
Greece’s civil aviation department has issued this timeline on MS804’s last moments and attempts to reach it:
02:24: EgyptAir flight 804 from Paris to Cairo enters Greek airspace, air traffic controller permissions it for the remainder of its course.
02:48: The flight is transferred to the next air traffic control sector and is cleared for exit from Greek airspace. “The pilot was in good spirits and thanked the controller in Greek.”
03:27: Athens air traffic control tries to contact the aircraft to convey information on the switch of communications and control from Athens to Cairo air traffic. In spite of repeated calls, the aircraft does not respond, whereupon the air traffic controller calls the distress frequency, without a response from the aircraft.
03:29: It is above the exit point (from Greek airspace).
03:39:40: The aircraft signal is lost, approximately 7 nautical miles south/southeast of the KUMBI point, within Cairo FIR. Immediately the assistance of radars of the Hellenic Air Force is requested to detect the target, without result.
03:45: The processes of search and rescue are initiated, simultaneously informing the Flight Information Region of Cairo.
Updated
at 11.57am BST
11.53am BST11.53am BST
11:5311:53
No debris has been found, according to another update from the Greek defence minister via Reuters. Greece has also asked for help on sifting through satellite information on the flight.No debris has been found, according to another update from the Greek defence minister via Reuters. Greece has also asked for help on sifting through satellite information on the flight.
Greece has asked for assistance on satellite information, no results so far in search - Greek Defence Minister #EgyptAir #MS804Greece has asked for assistance on satellite information, no results so far in search - Greek Defence Minister #EgyptAir #MS804
11.50am BST11.50am BST
11:5011:50
'Sudden swerves' before crash'Sudden swerves' before crash
The plane made “sudden swerves” before it came down, the Greek defence minister has said according to Reuters.The plane made “sudden swerves” before it came down, the Greek defence minister has said according to Reuters.
11.45am BST11.45am BST
11:4511:45
Reuters has this first take on Hollande’s statement, plus news that French prosecutors have launched an investigation.Reuters has this first take on Hollande’s statement, plus news that French prosecutors have launched an investigation.
No hypothesis can so far be ruled out about the fate of an EgyptAir plane that went missing on its way from Paris to Cairo, French President Francois Hollande said.No hypothesis can so far be ruled out about the fate of an EgyptAir plane that went missing on its way from Paris to Cairo, French President Francois Hollande said.
“Unfortunately the information we have ... confirms to us that the plane came down and is lost,” Hollande said. “No hypothesis can be ruled out, nor can any be favoured over another.”“Unfortunately the information we have ... confirms to us that the plane came down and is lost,” Hollande said. “No hypothesis can be ruled out, nor can any be favoured over another.”
Separately, Paris prosecutors said that they were opening an investigation into matter.Separately, Paris prosecutors said that they were opening an investigation into matter.
11.36am BST11.36am BST
11:3611:36
Hollande's statementHollande's statement
Here’s a translation from BBC of what President Hollande said:Here’s a translation from BBC of what President Hollande said:
It was feared that this plane had crashed. The information that we have managed to gather confirm alas that this plane has crashed, and it has disappeared. 66 passengers were on board, including the crew and security personnel. Among the passengers there were 15 French citizens. A crisis cell was actioned immediately.It was feared that this plane had crashed. The information that we have managed to gather confirm alas that this plane has crashed, and it has disappeared. 66 passengers were on board, including the crew and security personnel. Among the passengers there were 15 French citizens. A crisis cell was actioned immediately.
Alongside the Egyptian authorities we are making sure that all the families should be informed during this test. Our thoughts and solidarity and compassion are with them.Alongside the Egyptian authorities we are making sure that all the families should be informed during this test. Our thoughts and solidarity and compassion are with them.
We have a duty to know everything about the causes of what happened. No hypothesis should be ruled out. Everything should be put at the disposal of the Greek and Egyptian authorities so that we can liaise with them. We have to send them ships and planes to find where the plane crashed, and to do whatever we can to collect the debris. That will allow us to find the truth.We have a duty to know everything about the causes of what happened. No hypothesis should be ruled out. Everything should be put at the disposal of the Greek and Egyptian authorities so that we can liaise with them. We have to send them ships and planes to find where the plane crashed, and to do whatever we can to collect the debris. That will allow us to find the truth.
It could be a terrorist hypothesis but at this stage we should express our solidarity to the families and to find out the cause of the catastrophe.It could be a terrorist hypothesis but at this stage we should express our solidarity to the families and to find out the cause of the catastrophe.
We will find the truth.We will find the truth.
11.24am BST11.24am BST
11:2411:24
Hollande confirms crashHollande confirms crash
French president François Hollande has confirmed that the plane has crashed. In a TV press conference he said “no hypothesis” could be ruled out on the causes of the crash.French president François Hollande has confirmed that the plane has crashed. In a TV press conference he said “no hypothesis” could be ruled out on the causes of the crash.
He also offered help from France in the search for debris.He also offered help from France in the search for debris.
Hollande also offered his “solidarity” with the families of those on board.Hollande also offered his “solidarity” with the families of those on board.
11.19am BST11.19am BST
11:1911:19
Greek official: 'the plane has crashed'Greek official: 'the plane has crashed'
Helena SmithHelena Smith
Officials in Athens are convinced the EgyptAir plane has crashed, Helena Smith reports.Officials in Athens are convinced the EgyptAir plane has crashed, Helena Smith reports.
In an interview with the Guardian, the head of Greece’s air traffic controllers board insisted there was “no chance” MS804 was still in the air.In an interview with the Guardian, the head of Greece’s air traffic controllers board insisted there was “no chance” MS804 was still in the air.
“I consider it a fact that the plane has crashed. There is no chance of it still being in the air,” Serafeim Petrou said. “Most probably, and very unfortunately, it is at the bottom of the sea.”“I consider it a fact that the plane has crashed. There is no chance of it still being in the air,” Serafeim Petrou said. “Most probably, and very unfortunately, it is at the bottom of the sea.”
The veteran 61-year-old air traffic controller clarified that the plane was lost on radar screens 18.5km “south of the Greek boundary” in Cairo FIR.The veteran 61-year-old air traffic controller clarified that the plane was lost on radar screens 18.5km “south of the Greek boundary” in Cairo FIR.
“It did not give any vocal or electronic signal before it disappeared,” he added. “Nothing can be excluded,” he said when asked what may have caused the crash.“It did not give any vocal or electronic signal before it disappeared,” he added. “Nothing can be excluded,” he said when asked what may have caused the crash.
“An explosion could be a possibility but, then, so could damage to the fuselage. I think at this point we are talking about wreckage, wreckage at the bottom of the sea and tracing the cause is going to take time.”“An explosion could be a possibility but, then, so could damage to the fuselage. I think at this point we are talking about wreckage, wreckage at the bottom of the sea and tracing the cause is going to take time.”
Greece has scrambled two C-130 military aircraft, two helicopters (a Super Pumer and Sea Hawk) and a frigate as part of a search and rescue operation now taking place 130 nautical miles south east of the Aegean island of Karpathos.Greece has scrambled two C-130 military aircraft, two helicopters (a Super Pumer and Sea Hawk) and a frigate as part of a search and rescue operation now taking place 130 nautical miles south east of the Aegean island of Karpathos.
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.46am BSTat 11.46am BST
11.12am BST11.12am BST
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Here’s the latest summary of what we know:Here’s the latest summary of what we know:
UpdatedUpdated
at 11.12am BSTat 11.12am BST
10.52am BST10.52am BST
10:5210:52
The director of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority says air traffic controllers were in contact with the pilot of the EgyptAir flight as it passed through Greek airspace, AP reports.The director of Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority says air traffic controllers were in contact with the pilot of the EgyptAir flight as it passed through Greek airspace, AP reports.
The director, Konstantinos Lintzerakos, said the plane was at 37,000 feet, traveling at 519 mph, and did not report any problem.The director, Konstantinos Lintzerakos, said the plane was at 37,000 feet, traveling at 519 mph, and did not report any problem.
Lyzerakos told private Antenna television that controllers tried to make contact with the pilot 10 miles before the flight exited the Greek Flight Information Range (FIR), but the pilot did not respond. Lyzerakos says controllers continued trying to contact the pilot until 3:39 a.m. Greek time (12.39 GMT) when the plane disappeared from the radar.Lyzerakos told private Antenna television that controllers tried to make contact with the pilot 10 miles before the flight exited the Greek Flight Information Range (FIR), but the pilot did not respond. Lyzerakos says controllers continued trying to contact the pilot until 3:39 a.m. Greek time (12.39 GMT) when the plane disappeared from the radar.
Lyzerakos says the plane was in Cairo’s FIR when it vanished.Lyzerakos says the plane was in Cairo’s FIR when it vanished.
10.42am BST10.42am BST
10:4210:42
MarineTraffic, a shipping tracking website, has put together an updated video on the ships joining the search in the Mediterranean for the missing plane.MarineTraffic, a shipping tracking website, has put together an updated video on the ships joining the search in the Mediterranean for the missing plane.
Latest video of the #EgyptAir #MS804 sea search operations! pic.twitter.com/SsMgBI7qnOLatest video of the #EgyptAir #MS804 sea search operations! pic.twitter.com/SsMgBI7qnO
10.36am BST10.36am BST
10:3610:36
Greek aircraft have joined the sea search for the missing plane, according to the BBC’s Quentin Sommerville.Greek aircraft have joined the sea search for the missing plane, according to the BBC’s Quentin Sommerville.
Greek Armed Forces have deployed a military C-130 aircraft and one early warning aircraft EMB-145 H in #MS804 search 1/2Greek Armed Forces have deployed a military C-130 aircraft and one early warning aircraft EMB-145 H in #MS804 search 1/2
Another Greek C-130 is also heading to the area as well the frigate Nikiforos Fokas. A helicopter (1 Super Puma) is also on its way. 2/2Another Greek C-130 is also heading to the area as well the frigate Nikiforos Fokas. A helicopter (1 Super Puma) is also on its way. 2/2
There has been an unconfirmed report that the plane came down 130 miles off the Greek Island of Karpathos.There has been an unconfirmed report that the plane came down 130 miles off the Greek Island of Karpathos.