- Title: French say cockpit fire likely caused 2016 EgyptAir crash, contradicting Egypt
- Date: 7th July 2018
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE - MAY 19, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF FAMILIES OF VICTIMS AT MEMORIAL SERVICE ATTENDEE FILMING WITH MOBILE PHONE VARIOUS OF MEMORIAL STONE WITH ARABIC, ENGLISH AND FRENCH INSCRIPTIONS CANDLES PLACED NAMES OF VICTIMS ON WALL FAMILIES PLACING CANDLES AND FLOWERS AT MEMORIAL SIGN ON WALL READING (English): "MS804" VARIOUS OF FAMILIES PLACING CANDLES AT MEMORIAL EGYPTIAN MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION, SHERIF FATHI PLACING CANDLE AT MEMORIAL
- Embargoed: 21st July 2018 10:22
- Keywords: bodies disaster Crash search transport victims wreckage Egyptair Anniversary Egypt debris memorial Plane
- Location: CAIRO, EGYPT / AT SEA / UNKNOWN LOCATION
- City: CAIRO, EGYPT / AT SEA / UNKNOWN LOCATION
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Air Accidents,Disaster/Accidents
- Reuters ID: LVA0058NQYOUF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:A Paris-Cairo EgyptAir flight crash that killed everyone on board in May 2016, was likely caused by a cockpit fire, but Egyptian authorities have not followed up on calls for further probes, French investigators said on Saturday (July 7).
The statement, by France's BEA air accident investigation agency, contradicts an earlier assessment by Egyptian authorities who cited the discovery of trace elements of explosives on human remains, suggesting it was a malicious act.
The crash killed all 66 people on board, including 12 French nationals.
"The BEA considers that the most likely hypothesis is that a fire broke out in the cockpit while the airplane was flying at its cruise altitude and that the fire spread rapidly resulting in the loss of control of the airplane," the statement said.
The BEA said Egyptian investigators had not published their final report and not followed up on its proposals for further work on the debris.
EgyptAir was not immediately available for comment. The case was handed to judicial authorities after the Egyptian assessment of the cause given in December 2016.
It is extremely unusual that investigators from the country that is not leading the investigation would publicly comment on it. Any disagreement would usually be expressed confidentially and public comments could be a sign of serious divergences.
France and Egypt have in the past disagreed over how crash investigations are handled. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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