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| EgyptAir Flight 804 Debris Found in Mediterranean | EgyptAir Flight 804 Debris Found in Mediterranean |
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| CAIRO — Egyptian naval vessels, part of an international search-and-rescue flotilla, discovered debris and personal belongings on Friday from an EgyptAir plane that went down with 66 people on board, Egypt’s military said in a statement. | |
| The items, including human remains, two seats and one or more suitcases, as well as pieces of the plane, were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea about 180 miles north of Alexandria, Egypt, the Greek defense minister and an Egyptian military spokesman said. | The items, including human remains, two seats and one or more suitcases, as well as pieces of the plane, were recovered in the Mediterranean Sea about 180 miles north of Alexandria, Egypt, the Greek defense minister and an Egyptian military spokesman said. |
| At least six countries have joined in the search for the wreckage. | At least six countries have joined in the search for the wreckage. |
| EgyptAir Flight 804, an Airbus A320 jetliner, disappeared from radar screens early Thursday morning as it was flying over the Mediterranean to Cairo from Paris. Before it vanished, the jet plunged from cruising altitude while swerving violently and flying in a circle, the Greek defense minister, Panos Kammenos, said at a news conference on Thursday. | EgyptAir Flight 804, an Airbus A320 jetliner, disappeared from radar screens early Thursday morning as it was flying over the Mediterranean to Cairo from Paris. Before it vanished, the jet plunged from cruising altitude while swerving violently and flying in a circle, the Greek defense minister, Panos Kammenos, said at a news conference on Thursday. |
| “There is no doubt” that the debris is from the EgyptAir plane, the Egyptian Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Samir, said in an interview on Friday. | “There is no doubt” that the debris is from the EgyptAir plane, the Egyptian Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Samir, said in an interview on Friday. |
| The discovery of the remains and wreckage appeared to dash any lingering hopes of finding survivors. Among the dozen or so countries with citizens won the flight, Egypt suffered the greatest loss, with 30 people on board. The tragedy added grief to a sense of disbelief over a recent string of disasters, including the Russian airliner that was brought down shortly after it left the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in October, dealing a crippling blow to the country’s tourism. | The discovery of the remains and wreckage appeared to dash any lingering hopes of finding survivors. Among the dozen or so countries with citizens won the flight, Egypt suffered the greatest loss, with 30 people on board. The tragedy added grief to a sense of disbelief over a recent string of disasters, including the Russian airliner that was brought down shortly after it left the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in October, dealing a crippling blow to the country’s tourism. |
| EgyptAir said in a statement on Facebook that it had been informed of the discovery by the Egyptian military, adding that the search in the area was continuing. The European Space Agency, combing through satellite data, said on Friday that it had spotted a “potential oil slick” about 25 miles southeast of the plane’s last known location. The oil slick appeared to be more than a mile long, the agency said. | EgyptAir said in a statement on Facebook that it had been informed of the discovery by the Egyptian military, adding that the search in the area was continuing. The European Space Agency, combing through satellite data, said on Friday that it had spotted a “potential oil slick” about 25 miles southeast of the plane’s last known location. The oil slick appeared to be more than a mile long, the agency said. |
| The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority has provided what a spokesman called a definitive timeline on the disaster. The agency reported that the flight was proceeding normally at 1:48 a.m. Cairo time, when Greek traffic controllers last spoke with the pilot, who seemed in good spirits. | The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority has provided what a spokesman called a definitive timeline on the disaster. The agency reported that the flight was proceeding normally at 1:48 a.m. Cairo time, when Greek traffic controllers last spoke with the pilot, who seemed in good spirits. |
| At 2:27 a.m., the controllers in Athens tried and failed repeatedly to reach the plane, to pass control and communications to Cairo as the plane approached Egyptian airspace. Even attempts on an emergency frequency failed. | At 2:27 a.m., the controllers in Athens tried and failed repeatedly to reach the plane, to pass control and communications to Cairo as the plane approached Egyptian airspace. Even attempts on an emergency frequency failed. |
| At 2:29 a.m., the plane left Greek airspace, and at 2:29:40 a.m., Greek controllers lost the aircraft’s trace, just inside Egyptian airspace. | At 2:29 a.m., the plane left Greek airspace, and at 2:29:40 a.m., Greek controllers lost the aircraft’s trace, just inside Egyptian airspace. |
| Egypt’s minister of civil aviation, Sherif Fathi, said on Thursday that terrorism appeared a more likely cause for the disappearance than mechanical failure, but he cautioned that it was premature to make that judgment. Still, the admission that terrorism could be the cause stands in sharp contrast with earlier Egyptian air disasters, when officials resisted such a conclusion, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. | Egypt’s minister of civil aviation, Sherif Fathi, said on Thursday that terrorism appeared a more likely cause for the disappearance than mechanical failure, but he cautioned that it was premature to make that judgment. Still, the admission that terrorism could be the cause stands in sharp contrast with earlier Egyptian air disasters, when officials resisted such a conclusion, even in the face of overwhelming evidence. |
| At the same time, it seemed noteworthy that no militant group had claimed responsibility for bringing down the plane. In the past, groups like the Islamic State have been eager to take responsibility as a way to burnish their terrorist credentials and attract more followers. | At the same time, it seemed noteworthy that no militant group had claimed responsibility for bringing down the plane. In the past, groups like the Islamic State have been eager to take responsibility as a way to burnish their terrorist credentials and attract more followers. |
| Egypt was joined in the sea and air search effort by teams from Britain, Cyprus, France, Greece and Italy. In addition, French and British investigators and one expert from Airbus have joined a team of Egyptian investigators to inspect the airplane parts as they become available. Through that painstaking effort and the recovery of the plane’s flight data recorders, they hope to determine whether the plane fell victim to a terrorist act or to mechanical or human failure. | Egypt was joined in the sea and air search effort by teams from Britain, Cyprus, France, Greece and Italy. In addition, French and British investigators and one expert from Airbus have joined a team of Egyptian investigators to inspect the airplane parts as they become available. Through that painstaking effort and the recovery of the plane’s flight data recorders, they hope to determine whether the plane fell victim to a terrorist act or to mechanical or human failure. |
| President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt expressed his condolences to the families of victims on Friday. Mr. Sisi, “with utmost sadness and regret, mourns the victims on aboard the EgyptAir flight who were killed,” his office said in a statement. | President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt expressed his condolences to the families of victims on Friday. Mr. Sisi, “with utmost sadness and regret, mourns the victims on aboard the EgyptAir flight who were killed,” his office said in a statement. |
| As the debris was found, more details began to emerge about the passengers on the flight. The British news media reported that the only Briton on the plane was Richard Osman, 40, a father of two whose young daughter was born less than a month ago. | As the debris was found, more details began to emerge about the passengers on the flight. The British news media reported that the only Briton on the plane was Richard Osman, 40, a father of two whose young daughter was born less than a month ago. |
| Alastair Osman told ITV News that his brother, described as a workaholic and fitness enthusiast, grew up in Wales and worked in the gold-mining industry. The son of an Egyptian doctor, he lived with his French-born wife in Jersey, an island in the English Channel. | Alastair Osman told ITV News that his brother, described as a workaholic and fitness enthusiast, grew up in Wales and worked in the gold-mining industry. The son of an Egyptian doctor, he lived with his French-born wife in Jersey, an island in the English Channel. |
| Osman Abu Laban, a Lebanese film director who lives in Egypt, lost four members of his extended family in the crash. In a post on his Facebook page, Mr. Abu Laban announced funeral prayers on Friday afternoon at a Cairo mosque for his aunt and uncle, their son and the son’s wife. | Osman Abu Laban, a Lebanese film director who lives in Egypt, lost four members of his extended family in the crash. In a post on his Facebook page, Mr. Abu Laban announced funeral prayers on Friday afternoon at a Cairo mosque for his aunt and uncle, their son and the son’s wife. |
| “Oh God, be merciful to them, forgive them and make their abode the highest heaven,” Mr. Abu Laban wrote. | “Oh God, be merciful to them, forgive them and make their abode the highest heaven,” Mr. Abu Laban wrote. |
| Mr. Abu Laban has directed a number of Arabic-language action and historical drama films and television series. | Mr. Abu Laban has directed a number of Arabic-language action and historical drama films and television series. |