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Photo: AFP
An EgypAir plane (Photo: AFP)
Photo: AFP

Debris from Egyptian airplane found

Egyptian military has issued a statement saying it has found remnants from the EgyptAir jet that crashed into the Mediterranean on Thursday; the flight was carrying 56 passengers and ten crew members; EgyptianAir reported that it is too soon to rule out any cause for the crash, including terrorism

On Friday, the Egyptian military issued a statement saying it has found the personal belongings of passengers and other debris from the crashed EgyptAir jet  floating in the Mediterranean, confirming it had plunged into the sea with 66 people aboard.

 

 

The navy said it found the debris about 290 km north of the coastal city of Alexandria and was sweeping the area in search of the plane's black box recorders.

 

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi offered condolences for those on board, amounting to an official confirmation of their deaths.

 

While there is still no official explanation regarding the cause of the crash, suspicion has immediately fallen on Islamist militants who have been fighting against Egypt's government since Sisi toppled an elected Islamist leader in 2013. In October, ISIS claimed responsibility for blowing up a Russian jetliner that exploded after taking off from an Egyptian tourist resort. Russian investigators blamed a bomb smuggled on board.

 

At present, no group has yet to claim responsibility for the event.

 

 

Family and friends of the EgyptAir flight (Photos: Reuters)
Family and friends of the EgyptAir flight (Photos: Reuters)

 

Three French investigators and a technical expert from Airbus arrived in Cairo early on Friday to help investigate the fate of the missing plane.

 

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said on Thursday that it was too early to rule out any explanation for the disaster. The country’s aviation minister said a terrorist attack was more likely than a technical failure.

 

Friday’s announcement that debris had been found followed earlier confusion about whether wreckage had been located. Greek searchers found some material on Thursday, but the airline later said this was not from its plane.

 

Last year’s crash had already devastated Egypt’s tourist industry, one of the main sources of foreign exchange for a country of 80 million people, and another similar attack could crush any hope of it recovering.

 

While most governments were cautious about jumping to conclusions, US presidential hopeful Donald Trump took to Twitter shortly after the plane’s disappearance: “Looks like yet another terrorist attack. Airplane departed from Paris. When will we get tough, smart and vigilant?”

 

Many hours later, his likely Democratic rival Hillary Clinton also said it appeared to be an act of terrorism, although she said an investigation would have to determine the details.

 

 

Crew member on the EpygtAir flight
Crew member on the EpygtAir flight

 

Officials from a number of US agencies told Reuters that a US review of satellite imagery so far had not produced any signs of an explosion. They said the United States had not ruled out any possible causes for the crash, including mechanical failure, terrorism or a deliberate act by the pilot or crew.

  

Amid uncertainty about what had brought down the plane, Los Angeles International Airport became the first major US air transportation hub to say it was stepping up security measures.

 

Over the past few years, ultra-hardline Islamists have targeted airports, airliners and tourist sites in Europe, Egypt, Tunisia and other Middle Eastern countries.

 

 

Crew member on the EpygtAir flight
Crew member on the EpygtAir flight

 

EgyptAir confirmed that the aircraft was carrying 56 passengers, including one child and two infants, and 10 crew members when it crashed. They included 30 Egyptians and 15 French nationals, along with citizens of 10 other countries. A320s normally seat 150 people. The plane had made scheduled flights to Tunisia and Eritrea on Wednesday before arriving in Paris from Cairo.

 

At Cairo airport, a man sat on a brown leather couch crying with his hands covering his face on Thursday. “How long will Egypt live if human lives are so cheap?” He said.

 

The mother of a flight attendant rushed in tears out of the VIP hall where families waited. She said the last time her daughter called her was Wednesday night. “They haven't told us anything,” she said.

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.20.16, 14:20
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