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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2016/may/19/egyptair-plane-cairo-paris-live-updates
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Next version
| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| EgyptAir flight MS804 goes missing between Paris and Cairo – live updates | EgyptAir flight MS804 goes missing between Paris and Cairo – live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.08am BST | |
| 10:08 | |
| Kim Willsher | |
| Jean-Paul Troadec, former president of the French air accident investigation bureau (BEA) was asked by Europe 1 to speculate on what caused the plane’s disappearance. | |
| He said: | |
| “We have to remain very careful after the disappearance from the radars of the EgyptAir aircraft. The priority is to begin the investigation and to find, if possible, debris from the aircraft and eventually, the site of the wreckage. We can make certain hypotheses...there’s a strong possibility of an explosion on board from a bomb or a suicide bomber. The idea of a technical accident when weather conditions were good, seems also possible but not that likely. We could also consider a missile, which is what happened to the Malaysia Airlines aircraft in July 2014. | |
| “If the crew didn’t send an alert signal, it’s because what happened was very sudden. A problem with an engine or a technical fault, would not produce an immediate accident. In this case, the crew did not react, which makes us think of a bomb.” | |
| 9.56am BST | |
| 09:56 | |
| There is still no official confirmation that the plane has crashed, but EgyptAir officials and the Egyptian civil aviation department have told Reuters they believed the jet came down in the sea. “The theory that the plane crashed and fell is now confirmed after the preliminary search and after it did not arrive at any of the nearby airports,” said a senior aviation source, who declined to be identified. | |
| The source added: “All causes for the disaster are open, whether it is a major technical fault or a terrorist action or any other circumstance. This will be ascertained when we inspect the plane’s wreckage and transcribe its black boxes.” | |
| Meanwhile, a Greek defence ministry source said authorities were also investigating an account from the captain of a merchant ship who reported a ‘flame in the sky’ about 130 nautical miles south of the island of Karpathos. | |
| The boat tracking site MarineTraffic reports that eight boats have joined the search for the missing plane. | |
| More than 8 merchant ships have already joined the #MS804 sea search operations. #EGYPTAIR https://t.co/3hfOaMiDZO pic.twitter.com/bEEFUEU4D6 | |
| 9.49am BST | |
| 09:49 | |
| Here’s a map showing the last known position of missing flight MS804. | |
| 9.39am BST | |
| 09:39 | |
| France’s foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, has discussed the missing plane in a telephone call with his Egyptian counterpart, Sameh Shoukry. | |
| The French embassy in Cairo said Ayrault expressed the solidarity of France with Egypt, “in this terrible ordeal”. | |
| Ayrault is also reported to have set up a “crisis cell” at the French embassy in Cairo. EgyptAir said 15 of the people on board were French nationals. | |
| French FM Ayrault has convened a "crisis cell" at the French embassy in Cairo https://t.co/zGX18q9nbi #Egyptair pic.twitter.com/C86Z2JLoVB | |
| Egypt’s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said it was too early to rule out any explanation for the incident, including terrorism, Reuters reports. | |
| “Search operations are ongoing at this time for the airplane in the area where it is believed to have lost contact,” he told reporters at Cairo airport. | |
| Asked by a journalist if he could rule out that terrorists were behind the incident, Ismail said: “We cannot exclude anything at this time or confirm anything. All the search operations must be concluded so we can know the cause.” | |
| Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will chair a national security council meeting on Thursday morning, a statement from his office said. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.43am BST | |
| 9.24am BST | 9.24am BST |
| 09:24 | 09:24 |
| Airbus has issued a statement confirming that MS804 was lost over the Mediterrean at 2.30am local time. It has not confirmed a report that the plane crashed. | Airbus has issued a statement confirming that MS804 was lost over the Mediterrean at 2.30am local time. It has not confirmed a report that the plane crashed. |
| Here’s the statement: | Here’s the statement: |
| Airbus regrets to confirm that an A320 operated by Egyptair was lost at around 02:30 am (Egypt local time) today over the Mediterranean sea. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, Flight MS 804 from Paris, France to Cairo, Egypt. | Airbus regrets to confirm that an A320 operated by Egyptair was lost at around 02:30 am (Egypt local time) today over the Mediterranean sea. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service, Flight MS 804 from Paris, France to Cairo, Egypt. |
| The aircraft involved, registered under SU-GCC was MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 2088 delivered to Egyptair from the production line in November 2003. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 48,000 flight hours. It was powered by IAE engines. At this time no further factual information is available. | The aircraft involved, registered under SU-GCC was MSN (Manufacturer Serial Number) 2088 delivered to Egyptair from the production line in November 2003. The aircraft had accumulated approximately 48,000 flight hours. It was powered by IAE engines. At this time no further factual information is available. |
| In line with ICAO annex 13, Airbus stands-by ready to provide full technical assistance to French Investigation Agency - BEA - and to the Authorities in charge of the investigation. | In line with ICAO annex 13, Airbus stands-by ready to provide full technical assistance to French Investigation Agency - BEA - and to the Authorities in charge of the investigation. |
| The first A320 entered service in March 1988. At the end of April 2016 over6700 A320 Family aircraft were in operation worldwide. To date, the entire fleet has accumulated nearly 180 million flight hours in over 98 million flights. | The first A320 entered service in March 1988. At the end of April 2016 over6700 A320 Family aircraft were in operation worldwide. To date, the entire fleet has accumulated nearly 180 million flight hours in over 98 million flights. |
| Our concerns go to all those affected. | Our concerns go to all those affected. |
| Airbus will make further factual information available as soon as the details have been confirmed and cleared by the authorities for release. | Airbus will make further factual information available as soon as the details have been confirmed and cleared by the authorities for release. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.25am BST | at 9.25am BST |
| 9.21am BST | 9.21am BST |
| 09:21 | 09:21 |
| Egypt’s minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy is due to hold press conference, but not for almost three hours. | Egypt’s minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy is due to hold press conference, but not for almost three hours. |
| Daily News Egypt says the press conference by Sherif Fathy is due to take place at 1pm local time (12pm BST). | Daily News Egypt says the press conference by Sherif Fathy is due to take place at 1pm local time (12pm BST). |
| Update: Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy to hold press conference at 1 pm on #EgyptAirMS804 missing craft | Update: Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy to hold press conference at 1 pm on #EgyptAirMS804 missing craft |
| 9.13am BST | 9.13am BST |
| 09:13 | 09:13 |
| Plane 'crashed' off Greek islands | Plane 'crashed' off Greek islands |
| Matthew Weaver | Matthew Weaver |
| There is an unconfirmed report that the plane crashed in the Mediterranean 130 miles from the Greek island of Karpathos. AFP’s Jean-Marc Mojon cites a Greek aviation source for the report. | There is an unconfirmed report that the plane crashed in the Mediterranean 130 miles from the Greek island of Karpathos. AFP’s Jean-Marc Mojon cites a Greek aviation source for the report. |
| #EgyptAir plane crashed 130 nautical miles off #Greek island of Karpathos in Egyptian airspace at 0029 GMT: Greek civil aviation source @AFP | #EgyptAir plane crashed 130 nautical miles off #Greek island of Karpathos in Egyptian airspace at 0029 GMT: Greek civil aviation source @AFP |
| “At around 0029 GMT (3:29 am) when it was in Egyptian airspace, the plane disappeared from Greek radars... it crashed around 130 nautical miles off the island of Karpathos,” the source told AFP. | “At around 0029 GMT (3:29 am) when it was in Egyptian airspace, the plane disappeared from Greek radars... it crashed around 130 nautical miles off the island of Karpathos,” the source told AFP. |
| The official said the last communication with the pilot was three minutes before the plane disappeared, and that there had been no distress call. | The official said the last communication with the pilot was three minutes before the plane disappeared, and that there had been no distress call. |
| The Greek defence ministry said it had dispatched two search planes and a frigate to the area. | The Greek defence ministry said it had dispatched two search planes and a frigate to the area. |
| EgyptAir continues to appeal to the media to “abide” by official press releases on the missing plane. | EgyptAir continues to appeal to the media to “abide” by official press releases on the missing plane. |
| and to abide by the official press releases issued by EGYPTAIR media center. | and to abide by the official press releases issued by EGYPTAIR media center. |
| The boat tracking website, MarineTraffic, has put together a video of at least five ships that appear to be joining the sea search for the missing Airbus around its last known location in the Mediterranean. | The boat tracking website, MarineTraffic, has put together a video of at least five ships that appear to be joining the sea search for the missing Airbus around its last known location in the Mediterranean. |
| 9.01am BST | 9.01am BST |
| 09:01 | 09:01 |
| What we know so far | What we know so far |
| Claire Phipps | Claire Phipps |
| Here is the latest summary as news continues to unfold around the disappearance of flight MS804: | Here is the latest summary as news continues to unfold around the disappearance of flight MS804: |
| I’m now handing over this live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver in London. Thanks for reading. | I’m now handing over this live blog to my colleague Matthew Weaver in London. Thanks for reading. |
| 8.50am BST | 8.50am BST |
| 08:50 | 08:50 |
| The fact that three of the 10 crew on the flight were security officers is “the usual practice”, Alain Vidalies, the French transport minister, has said. | The fact that three of the 10 crew on the flight were security officers is “the usual practice”, Alain Vidalies, the French transport minister, has said. |
| EgyptAir said there were three security personnel on board, alongside two cockpit crew and five cabin crew. | EgyptAir said there were three security personnel on board, alongside two cockpit crew and five cabin crew. |
| 8.44am BST | 8.44am BST |
| 08:44 | 08:44 |
| Lara El Gibaly reports from Cairo international airport: | Lara El Gibaly reports from Cairo international airport: |
| Outside the terminal, doctors, and nurses, as well as military personnel, have been seen going into the hall where relatives of the passengers of the missing plane are being kept. | Outside the terminal, doctors, and nurses, as well as military personnel, have been seen going into the hall where relatives of the passengers of the missing plane are being kept. |
| The Egyptian aviation ministry has announced a press conference due to take place at 1.30pm local time (11.30am GMT). | The Egyptian aviation ministry has announced a press conference due to take place at 1.30pm local time (11.30am GMT). |
| 8.39am BST | 8.39am BST |
| 08:39 | 08:39 |
| Confusingly, a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Egyptian army says the army did not receive a distress signal from the plane. | Confusingly, a statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Egyptian army says the army did not receive a distress signal from the plane. |
| It is not clear whether this contradicts the EgyptAir report that a signal was received from the plane’s emergency devices – presumed to be a locator transmitter or beacon – at 04.26 local time (02.26 GMT), two hours after the last radar contact. It could refer to the previous statement by EgyptAir that no distress call was received from the cockpit. | It is not clear whether this contradicts the EgyptAir report that a signal was received from the plane’s emergency devices – presumed to be a locator transmitter or beacon – at 04.26 local time (02.26 GMT), two hours after the last radar contact. It could refer to the previous statement by EgyptAir that no distress call was received from the cockpit. |
| In the army statement, the spokesman of the Egyptian army, Brigadier General Mohammed Samir, said the army had not received any distress call from the missing plane. | In the army statement, the spokesman of the Egyptian army, Brigadier General Mohammed Samir, said the army had not received any distress call from the missing plane. |
| 8.35am BST | 8.35am BST |
| 08:35 | 08:35 |
| A statement from Egypt’s civil aviation ministry says it is too early to conclude that the missing plane has crashed. | A statement from Egypt’s civil aviation ministry says it is too early to conclude that the missing plane has crashed. |
| It is now seven hours since flight MS804 disappeared from the radar. | It is now seven hours since flight MS804 disappeared from the radar. |
| 8.28am BST | 8.28am BST |
| 08:28 | 08:28 |
| EgyptAir has protested at what it calls “misinformation” about potential causes and outcomes of the disappearance and asked media to wait for official updates. | EgyptAir has protested at what it calls “misinformation” about potential causes and outcomes of the disappearance and asked media to wait for official updates. |
| (We are avoiding speculation in this live blog.) | (We are avoiding speculation in this live blog.) |
| The European Aviation Safety Agency is also treading carefully: | The European Aviation Safety Agency is also treading carefully: |
| Aware of the media reports concerning Egyptair flight #MS804. No further Information at this stage. Following the developments very closely. | Aware of the media reports concerning Egyptair flight #MS804. No further Information at this stage. Following the developments very closely. |
| 8.23am BST | 8.23am BST |
| 08:23 | 08:23 |
| French prime minister Manuel Valls says France has offered to send planes and boats to help the search for missing EgyptAir flight. | French prime minister Manuel Valls says France has offered to send planes and boats to help the search for missing EgyptAir flight. |
| French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: | French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said: |
| Everything must be done to find the plane, that’s why we’re in contact with the Egyptian authorities. | Everything must be done to find the plane, that’s why we’re in contact with the Egyptian authorities. |
| We are mobilising and ready to send our military means, planes and boats, to search for this plane. | We are mobilising and ready to send our military means, planes and boats, to search for this plane. |
| French transport minister Alain Vidalies confirmed the report from EgyptAir that there was no cargo on board the Airbus A320. | French transport minister Alain Vidalies confirmed the report from EgyptAir that there was no cargo on board the Airbus A320. |
| 8.18am BST | 8.18am BST |
| 08:18 | 08:18 |
| Here’s a rundown of what we do and don’t know so far about the missing flight: | Here’s a rundown of what we do and don’t know so far about the missing flight: |
| Related: Q&A: key questions about missing EgyptAir flight MS 804 | Related: Q&A: key questions about missing EgyptAir flight MS 804 |
| 8.12am BST | 8.12am BST |
| 08:12 | 08:12 |
| The French foreign office has set up an emergency phone line for people worried about relatives and friends on flight MS804: | The French foreign office has set up an emergency phone line for people worried about relatives and friends on flight MS804: |
| francediplo: Disparition du vol #EgyptAir - Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a ouvert une cellule de crise : 01 43 17 55 95 | francediplo: Disparition du vol #EgyptAir - Le ministère des Affaires étrangères a ouvert une cellule de crise : 01 43 17 55 95 |
| 8.08am BST | 8.08am BST |
| 08:08 | 08:08 |
| The Egyptian prime minister, Sherif Ismail, is at Cairo international airport, EgyptAir says: | The Egyptian prime minister, Sherif Ismail, is at Cairo international airport, EgyptAir says: |
| Engineer Ismael was presented with a detailed briefing about the situation from the crisis team | Engineer Ismael was presented with a detailed briefing about the situation from the crisis team |
| and he has directed all the concerned authorities to take all necessary action for dealing with the crisis. | and he has directed all the concerned authorities to take all necessary action for dealing with the crisis. |
| (Ismail is a former engineer.) | (Ismail is a former engineer.) |