Flight MS804: Debris and body part found
Egyptian military have confirmed that a body part, two seats and at least one suitcase have been found in the search for the missing EgyptAir plane.
The search, which is centred around 180 miles from Alexandria, is now focusing on finding the flight recorders from Flight MS804.
EgyptAir issued a statement conveying its deepest sorrow and sympathies to the families and friends of the passengers.
It has drafted in international support group Kenyon to assist those who are affected by the tragedy.
Its senior management team has met with relatives of the passengers and crew at a hotel in Cairo.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi also issued a statement expressing his ‘utmost sadness and regret’ at the crash.
The Airbus A320, carrying 66 passengers and crew, was flying from Paris to Cairo when it lost contact with radar at 37,000ft over the eastern Mediterranean in the early hours of Thursday.
Passengers on board included 30 Egyptians, 15 French citizens, one Briton, and others from Belgium, Algeria, Sudan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Chad and Portugal.
Officials fear an act of terrorism could be to blame.
Greek defence minister Panos Kammenos yesterday said the plane reportedly went down after making ‘sudden swerves’ in mid-air, turning 90 degrees to the left and 360 degrees to the right before plunging into the sea.
If the incident was found to be terror-related, it raises major questions about the safety of air travel as the flight had taken off from Paris Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe’s major airport hubs.
Security procedures there are regarded among the tightest in Europe and were stepped up following terror attacks in Paris and Brussels.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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