This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36339291
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
EgyptAir flight: Search intensifies for missing plane | EgyptAir flight: Search intensifies for missing plane |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A massive search is continuing for a second day for an EgyptAir plane that disappeared over the Mediterranean. | A massive search is continuing for a second day for an EgyptAir plane that disappeared over the Mediterranean. |
Greek, Egyptian, French and UK military units are taking part in the operation near Greece's Karpathos island. | Greek, Egyptian, French and UK military units are taking part in the operation near Greece's Karpathos island. |
Flight MS804 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 passengers and crew when it vanished early on Thursday. | Flight MS804 was en route from Paris to Cairo with 66 passengers and crew when it vanished early on Thursday. |
Greece said radar showed the Airbus A320 had made two sharp turns and dropped more than 25,000ft (7,620m) before plunging into the sea. | Greece said radar showed the Airbus A320 had made two sharp turns and dropped more than 25,000ft (7,620m) before plunging into the sea. |
Egypt says the plane was more likely to have been brought down by a terrorist act than a technical fault. | Egypt says the plane was more likely to have been brought down by a terrorist act than a technical fault. |
But, more than 24 hours since the plane dropped off radars, no group has said it was behind its disappearance. | |
Most of the people on board Flight MS804 were from Egypt and France. A Briton was also among the passengers. | Most of the people on board Flight MS804 were from Egypt and France. A Briton was also among the passengers. |
The latest on the search | |
So far, no wreckage or debris from the aircraft has been found. | So far, no wreckage or debris from the aircraft has been found. |
Initial reports late on Thursday, based on Egyptian officials' comments that wreckage had been found, later proved unfounded. | Initial reports late on Thursday, based on Egyptian officials' comments that wreckage had been found, later proved unfounded. |
Greece's lead air accident investigator Athanasios Binis said items including lifejackets found near Karpathos were not from the Airbus A320. | Greece's lead air accident investigator Athanasios Binis said items including lifejackets found near Karpathos were not from the Airbus A320. |
"An assessment of the finds showed that they do not belong to an aircraft," he said. | "An assessment of the finds showed that they do not belong to an aircraft," he said. |
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered the country's civil aviation ministry, army-run search-and-rescue centre, navy and air force to take all necessary measures to locate the wreckage. | Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has ordered the country's civil aviation ministry, army-run search-and-rescue centre, navy and air force to take all necessary measures to locate the wreckage. |
The focus of the investigation | |
So far, there has been "absolutely no indication" as to why the plane came down, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Friday morning. | |
Three investigators from the French air accident investigation bureau, along with a technical adviser from Airbus, are joining the Egyptian inquiry. | |
In France, the focus is on whether a possible breach of security happened at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. | |
After last November's Paris attacks, some airport staff had their security clearance revoked over fears of links to Islamic extremists. | |
Eric Moucay, a lawyer for some of those employees, told the BBC that there had been attempts by Islamists to recruit airport staff. | Eric Moucay, a lawyer for some of those employees, told the BBC that there had been attempts by Islamists to recruit airport staff. |
"That is clear. There are people who are being radicalised in some of the trade unions etc. The authorities have their work cut out with this problem," he said. | "That is clear. There are people who are being radicalised in some of the trade unions etc. The authorities have their work cut out with this problem," he said. |
In October an Airbus A321 operated by Russia's Metrojet blew up over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board. Sinai Province, a local affiliate of the Islamic State jihadist group, said it had smuggled a bomb on board. | |
French President Francois Hollande said: "We will draw conclusions when we have the truth about what happened. | |
"Whether it was an accident, or whether it was - and it's something that is on our minds - terrorism." | |
What do we know happened? | |
Flight MS804 left Paris at 23:09 local time on Wednesday (21:09 GMT) and was scheduled to arrive in the Egyptian capital soon after 03:15 local time (01:15 GMT) on Thursday. | Flight MS804 left Paris at 23:09 local time on Wednesday (21:09 GMT) and was scheduled to arrive in the Egyptian capital soon after 03:15 local time (01:15 GMT) on Thursday. |
On the plane were 56 passengers, seven crew members and three security personnel. | On the plane were 56 passengers, seven crew members and three security personnel. |
Greek aviation officials say air traffic controllers spoke to the pilot when he entered Greek airspace and everything appeared normal. | Greek aviation officials say air traffic controllers spoke to the pilot when he entered Greek airspace and everything appeared normal. |
They tried to contact him again at 02:27 Cairo time, as the plane was set to enter Egyptian airspace, but "despite repeated calls, the aircraft did not respond". Two minutes later it vanished from radar. | They tried to contact him again at 02:27 Cairo time, as the plane was set to enter Egyptian airspace, but "despite repeated calls, the aircraft did not respond". Two minutes later it vanished from radar. |
Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos told reporters: "The picture we have at the moment of the accident as it emerges from the Greek air force operations centre is that the aircraft was approximately 10-15 miles inside the Egyptian FIR [flight information region] and at an altitude of 37,000 feet. | |
"It turned 90 degrees left and then a 360-degree turn toward the right, dropping from 37,000 to 15,000 feet and then it was lost at about 10,000 feet." | "It turned 90 degrees left and then a 360-degree turn toward the right, dropping from 37,000 to 15,000 feet and then it was lost at about 10,000 feet." |
Egyptian Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi said: "Let's not try to jump to the side that is trying to identify this as a technical failure - on the contrary. | Egyptian Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi said: "Let's not try to jump to the side that is trying to identify this as a technical failure - on the contrary. |
"If you analyse the situation properly, the possibility of having a different action, or having a terror attack, is higher than the possibility of having a technical [fault]." | "If you analyse the situation properly, the possibility of having a different action, or having a terror attack, is higher than the possibility of having a technical [fault]." |
Aviation analyst Alex Macheras told the BBC that Airbus A320s were regularly used for short-haul budget flights and had "an amazing safety record". | Aviation analyst Alex Macheras told the BBC that Airbus A320s were regularly used for short-haul budget flights and had "an amazing safety record". |
Who were the victims? | |
The names of some of those who were on board have emerged over the past day, but most have not been identified publicly. | |
Those said to be on board include: | |
Read more on some of the MS804 victims here | |
If anyone is concerned about relatives or friends following the disappearance of the flight, they can call this free number provided by EgyptAir: +202 259 89320 | |
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |