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Egyptair flight MS804: 'Terrorism more likely than technical failure', says Egypt – live Egyptair flight MS804: 'Terrorism more likely than technical failure', says Egypt – live
(35 minutes later)
3.17pm BST
15:17
The first EgyptAir flight from Paris since the crash has departed now, though to be carrying families of passengers, according to AP’s Raphael Satter.
MS800 - 1st #EgyptAir flight from Paris since crash - is boarding. Passenger's families are thought to be aboard. pic.twitter.com/ClAJWO69zS
3.16pm BST
15:16
British pilot Alan Carter has told the BBC he was flying a B 747 in same airspace at almost exactly the same time that the EgyptAir plane went down.
He called the conditions “perfect” and said there had been no issues with lines of communications.
All air traffic communications were operating normal. I spoke to Athens radar and remarked how quiet it was, and they told me there were only five planes in the area.
3.13pm BST
15:13
A meeting hosted by Italy’s prime minister of Europe’s left-wing political leaders, including French President Francois Hollande, has been cancelled following the EgyptAir crash.
The meeting had been due to discuss the refugee crisis and the forthcoming UK referendum on EU membership. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka, Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven had all been due to attend, Reuters reports.
3.06pm BST
15:06
Rukmini Callimachi, the New York Times journalist who focuses on Islamic State, says there is no claim of responsibility as yet or anything to indicate that IS terrorism is to blame for the plane’s disappearance.
Morning everyone. Just checked the main ISIS Telegram channels I am following & there's no claim of responsibility as yet regarding EgyptAir
It’s worth noting that IS claimed responsibility for the downing of Metrojet Flight 9268 over the Sinai on October 31 by that afternoon.
Updated
at 3.22pm BST
2.59pm BST
14:59
Outside Cairo airport terminal, families are slowly leaving, distraught and frustrated by the lack of information, writes Lara El Gibaly.
“They haven’t said anything to us. We have no information,” said Mervat Mounir, whose relative Samar Ezzeldin was one of the seven Egyptian cabin crew on board. The 27-year-old had been a flight attendant with EgyptAir for two years and recently got married.
Michery el Soheil came to the airport hoping for news of his uncle Abdelmohsen Soheil, a Kuwaiti professor of economics and a father of two, who was heading to Cairo for a three-day conference.
“We had called him just before he boarded and everything was fine, he was excited to be coming to Cairo,” said Michery.
Describing the situation in the relatives’ waiting hall, he said: “Everyone inside is waiting for any bit of information, we feel powerless. But we are praying for their souls. If anyone was alive, they would have found them by now.”
Security personnel outside the hall say fewer than a dozen families remain inside. Many of those who have left have gone to the nearby Le Passage hotel, where EgyptAir is offering the families accommodation.
Updated
at 3.12pm BST
2.54pm BST
14:54
Here’s what we know so far about missing EgyptAir flight MS804.
2.41pm BST2.41pm BST
14:4114:41
Signs of possible wreckage were found off the Greek island of Crete, a Greek military spokesman told AFP.Signs of possible wreckage were found off the Greek island of Crete, a Greek military spokesman told AFP.
“There have been finds southeast of Crete, inside the Cairo flight information area,” general staff spokesman Vassilis Beletsiotis said. He added that an Egyptian C-130 plane had spotted the floating objects, and ships would be sent to investigate.“There have been finds southeast of Crete, inside the Cairo flight information area,” general staff spokesman Vassilis Beletsiotis said. He added that an Egyptian C-130 plane had spotted the floating objects, and ships would be sent to investigate.
Debris from missing #EgyptAir plane believed to have been found west of #Crete. #Greek officials expressing shock tt so far from crash siteDebris from missing #EgyptAir plane believed to have been found west of #Crete. #Greek officials expressing shock tt so far from crash site
2.33pm BST2.33pm BST
14:3314:33
An RAF landing ship has been ordered to help in the search, according to the BBC’s defence correspondent Jonathan Beale. Defence secretary Michael Fallon has also offered to deploy a Hercules aircraft.An RAF landing ship has been ordered to help in the search, according to the BBC’s defence correspondent Jonathan Beale. Defence secretary Michael Fallon has also offered to deploy a Hercules aircraft.
RFA Mounts Bay is sailing to help n search of missing #EgyptAir jet. Michael Fallon has also offered @RoyalAirForce Hercules to helpRFA Mounts Bay is sailing to help n search of missing #EgyptAir jet. Michael Fallon has also offered @RoyalAirForce Hercules to help
2.27pm BST2.27pm BST
14:2714:27
Barack Obama has been briefed on the EgyptAir crash according to the White House.Barack Obama has been briefed on the EgyptAir crash according to the White House.
The briefing was given by Lisa Monaco, adviser for homeland security and counter-terrorism, Reuters reported.The briefing was given by Lisa Monaco, adviser for homeland security and counter-terrorism, Reuters reported.
Obama asked to be updated throughout the day and directed administration officials to reach out to their international counterparts to offer support and assistance, deputy White House Press Secretary Eric Schultz said in a statement.Obama asked to be updated throughout the day and directed administration officials to reach out to their international counterparts to offer support and assistance, deputy White House Press Secretary Eric Schultz said in a statement.
2.22pm BST2.22pm BST
14:2214:22
Helena SmithHelena Smith
Greek state-run TV is confirming that debris from the missing EgyptAir plane has been found 230 nautical miles west of the Mediterranean island of Crete, writes Helena Smith.Greek state-run TV is confirming that debris from the missing EgyptAir plane has been found 230 nautical miles west of the Mediterranean island of Crete, writes Helena Smith.
Officials are expressing alarm and surprise that the wreckage -as yet officially unidentified - has been sited so far away from the site where the Airbus is believed to have come down, more than 100 nautical miles away off the southeastern island of Karpathos.Officials are expressing alarm and surprise that the wreckage -as yet officially unidentified - has been sited so far away from the site where the Airbus is believed to have come down, more than 100 nautical miles away off the southeastern island of Karpathos.
Winds in the area are southerly and would not precipitate such movement. The debris was identified by an Egyptian C-295 aircraft. Greek media is reporting that the debris could be life jackets.Winds in the area are southerly and would not precipitate such movement. The debris was identified by an Egyptian C-295 aircraft. Greek media is reporting that the debris could be life jackets.
Earlier Greece’s civil aviation authority issued a statement saying that the pilot of the fated EgyptAir plane was “in good spirits” when the country’s air traffic controllers made contact with crew.Earlier Greece’s civil aviation authority issued a statement saying that the pilot of the fated EgyptAir plane was “in good spirits” when the country’s air traffic controllers made contact with crew.
At 02.48 AM, just before MS804 exited Greek airspace. “The pilot was in good spirits and thanked [us] in Greek,” the civil aviation authority said.At 02.48 AM, just before MS804 exited Greek airspace. “The pilot was in good spirits and thanked [us] in Greek,” the civil aviation authority said.
At 03:27 despite “repeated” efforts to make contact with crew again, “the pilot did not answer,” the authority added.At 03:27 despite “repeated” efforts to make contact with crew again, “the pilot did not answer,” the authority added.
“At 03:29 the plane’s signal vanished from the radar approximately 7 nautical miles south/southeast of the point of Kumbi, in Cairo FIR,” the statement said.“At 03:29 the plane’s signal vanished from the radar approximately 7 nautical miles south/southeast of the point of Kumbi, in Cairo FIR,” the statement said.
Greek sources have told the Guardian that the possibility of a suicide bomber or explosive being the cuase of the crash “is very real.” Greece has mounted a search and rescue operation off the southeastern Aegean island of Karpathos where the Airbus is believed to come down.Greek sources have told the Guardian that the possibility of a suicide bomber or explosive being the cuase of the crash “is very real.” Greece has mounted a search and rescue operation off the southeastern Aegean island of Karpathos where the Airbus is believed to come down.
2.15pm BST
14:15
In his briefing to reporters Fathy admitted that the Egyptian authorities mistakenly reported that a signal was received two hours after air traffic control lost contact with MS804.
He said: “There was a mistake made by an official somewhere. He talked about a signal and then a few minutes after he came back and apologised, and he came back and said ‘sorry there was no signal’. After his first statement we all went to the press and said the signal was received, thereafter we denied that and we admit there was a mistake that happened.”
1.59pm BST
13:59
More on that possible find via Reuters:
A Greek frigate searching for a missing Egyptair aircraft discovered two large plastic floating objects in a sea area 230 miles south of the island of Crete on Thursday, Greek defence sources said.
The two objects appeared to be pieces of plastic in white and red. They were spotted close to an area where a transponder signal was emitted earlier, the sources said.
Missing #EgyptAir aircraft debris found south of greek island of Karpathos in southern Mediterranean - greek state tv
1.56pm BST
13:56
Possible debris found
Reuters reports a possible breakthrough.
Greek authorities searching for the missing aircraft spot two floating objects in the sea 50 miles south of the island of Karpathos.
Updated
at 1.59pm BST
1.51pm BST
13:51
‘Terrorism more likely than technical failure’
Fathy conceded that terrorism was more likely than technical failure to be the cause of the crash .
Despite his reluctance to be drawn on the causes, Fathy said: “If you analysis the situation properly the possibility of having a terror attack is higher than the possibility of having a technical [problem].
Updated
at 1.52pm BST
1.41pm BST
13:41
“I am not happy with people making assumptions, while we haven’t found the wreckage yet”, Fahy said in English in response to some bad tempered questions.
He said he didn’t know how big the search radius was. It was between Crete and another Greek island he said, after also mentioning the island of Karpathos.
1.37pm BST
13:37
Fathy says there were no known security issues with passengers on the plane. Asked whether there had been increase terrorist “chatter” before the plane disappeared, Fathy said: “not according to my information”.
He also insisted that air travel to Egypt remained safe.
Fathy confirmed that the plane made a stop in Tunisia before the flight to Paris.
He also said nothing should be concluded from reported sightings of flashes in the sky at the time of plane’s disappearance.
Updated
at 1.53pm BST
1.23pm BST
13:23
Fathy confirms that the search operation is focused near the Greek Island of Karpathos. Earlier a Greek aviation source told AFP that the plane came down 130 nautical miles from the island.
1.20pm BST
13:20
Here’s a summary of what we know so far about missing EgyptAir flight MS804.
1.06pm BST
13:06
Egypt’s prosecutor general has ordered a state security investigation into the missing plane. Meanwhile, Egypt’s aviation minister Sherif Fathy continues to bat away question.
“When I have facts I will tell you the facts,” Fathy tells an increasingly rowdy press conference. “What else can I do?” he asks reporters.
Earlier Fathy said a terror attack or technical problems could not be ruled out as possible causes of the crash. Fathy said he did not know where the plane was.
12.57pm BST
12:57
Our map on the flight’s last movements has been updated