Were EgyptAir passengers alive for three minutes as plane burned? Experts say flight data ‘points towards a bomb’ as first pictures emerge of MS804’s wreckage and search teams ‘discover blackbox’
- The first pictures of the mangled wreckage from EgyptAir flight 804 have emerged from the crash site
- Investigators confirm smoke alarms were sounding on board EgyptAir Flight MS804 before it crashed into the sea
- Experts say the leaked data indicates that the plane crash was caused by an on-board bomb or ‘incendiary device’
- Hundreds of mourners gathered to offer prayers for victims of EgyptAir flight which crashed in the Mediterranean
- Father of the co-pilot was overwhelmed by messages of condolence as imam led emotional service for the missing
- Captain’s father collapsed with grief at another vigil in his home city near Cairo where doomed jet was due to land
Smoke alarms were sounding for almost three minutes on board EgyptAir Flight 804 before it plummeted into the sea, investigators have confirmed, leading experts to claim the crash was likely caused by a bomb or ‘incendiary device’.
Experts have drawn various conclusions from leaked data about alerts sent out by the doomed jet in its final moments, with many pointing out that for now any information gleaned is ‘pure conjecture’.
While the data indicates that something catastrophic did occur on board the plane – seeming to rule out theories that it was deliberately crashed into the sea by a pilot or hijacker – there is disagreement as to whether it points to a bomb or a fire on board.
It comes as the first pictures of the mangled wreckage emerged from the crash site.
‘If there’s fire on board the aircraft, in this area which the ACARS indicates, then something was close to the cockpit,’ Mr Soucie said.
‘It could have been either something mechanical that had failed, a short circuit, or it could have been an incendiary device of some kind as well.’
ACARS does not provide a cause of the crash, but Mr Soucie said it was significant that the data was sent over a period of one to two minutes.
‘Now if it it was a bomb, the characteristic bomb… would have ruptured the skin of the aircraft,’ he said.
‘This is not the indication you would have had, because a bomb that would do that would be instantaneous, and these reports would not have gone over two minutes like they do.’
The analyst added that a fire in the front section of the plane may well have affected the communications equipment.
According to the leaked data, smoke alarms in the lavatory behind the cockpit first began sounding at 00.26GMT. Less than a minute later, smoke was also detected in the avionics [electronics].
The final two alerts from the plane indicate faults with the FCU – the flight control unit used by the pilot to input instructions into the flight computer – and the SEC 3 – the computer that controls the plane’s spoilers and elevator computers
Leak: Data has emerged indicating the EgyptAir Flight MS804 was on fire before it plummeted into the Mediterranean. An ACARS screen grab (above) shows smoke alarms in the lavatory behind the cockpit sounded at 00.26GMT, three minutes before the plane lost contact
The plane’s twisted blue metal panelling, marked with EgyptAir branding, as well as items of clothing and yellow life jackets have been recovered from the sea, where investigators continue to search the wreckage.
Egyptian media have also reported that divers have found the blackbox between close to the crash site. The blackbox has yet to be recovered by rescuers but could provide vital clues into what caused the plane to crash just as it entered Egyptian airspace on its journey to Cairo.
Agency spokesman Sebastien Barthe confirmed the sounding of the smoke alarms ‘generally mean the start of a fire,’ but insisted that everything is currently ‘pure conjecture.’
Experts are pouring over the crash site with concerns that the plane fire may have been caused by a bomb blast due to suspect nature of the fire.
While Egyptian officials continue saying that they suspect terrorism, no group has yet come forward to claim credit as theories as to the cause of the crash continue to circulate.
It comes as hundreds of mourners gathered to offer prayers for the 66 passengers and crew killed in the EgyptAir disaster.
Friends and family of one of the EgyptAir MS804 victims, air hostess Yara Hani Tawfik, mourn at her memorial service
The Aviation Herald claimed to have received the data from three independent channels, which were unidentified.
The ACARS screen grab provided information about smoke and heat on a window near the co-pilot and in the lavatory, which was behind the cockpit.
Meanwhile, family, friends and colleagues held back tears as the Imam led prays for their salvation at the Al Sedeq mosque close to Cairo International Airport where the doom jet had been due to land.
The hour-long Friday prayers ended with pall bearers carrying a symbolic coffin for the missing bodies out of the sprawling complex.
Outside, family members told of their shock at the sudden disappearance of passenger jet, while colleagues praised the professionalism of the crew.
Ahmed Asem, the father of co-pilot Mohamed Mamdouh Ahmed Asem, was overwhelmed by messages of condolence.
Mohamed’s cousin, Hizam Asem told MailOnline: ‘Mohamed was a very, very good pilot. He was the best in his class. He was very skillful.
‘Ever since he was a little boy he had wanted to fly a plane. And finally he was realising his dream. He was just a young man of 27 but he was living the life he had always wanted.’
The co-pilot’s uncle Hisam Asem added: ‘Mohamed loved his job. He loved being a pilot. He introduced me to Captain Mohamed Said Ali Ali Shoukair. He was a very nice man, a very good pilot.
Grief-stricken air-hostesss Rasha Al Saandy and Shereen Fouad hugged each other in support outside the mosque.
Rasha Al Saandy told MailOnline: ‘I knew Captain Shoukair and some of the crew. They were the best colleagues anyone could hope for.
‘I did not know the younger air hostesses Samar [Ezz Eldin] or Yara Hany because they had not been working on but [steward] Haietham Elzazizi was my best friend. He was so funny, he was always smiling and laughing.
‘Since I heard what happened I cannot sleep, I cannot sleep.’
Shereen Fouad added: ‘This is so terrible. I cannot imagine how this has happened.’
At another emotional service, the father of Captain Mohamed Said Ali Ali Shoukair collapsed in grief for his missing son.
Distraught Bahgat Shoukair was unable to stand during the absent funeral service for his pilot son Mohamed following Friday prayers in his home city of Badrashin, south of Cairo.
Frail Mr Shoukair could only sit in a chair throughout the service at the Yusef mosque, being too weak to stand and knee as is customary in Muslim prayers.
However the father was able to shake hands with people who offered him their condolences for the loss of his son.
‘Bahgat Shoukair was distraught,’ one onlookers told Egyptian internet news service Video 7.
‘He could not stand up. He had to sit on a chair. He could only shake hands with people. After the prayer service his relatives carried him to his home.’
The captain’s uncle, Shihab Shakir, told Youm7: ‘The information we received is the same as what they said on TV. They remained tight lipped about what happened.
‘If there was anything, he would have known because he’s not an inexperienced pilot. He’s very experienced and all his managers and bosses say that he is one of the best pilot’s in Egypt.
‘[The last time I spoke with him] he called and asked if I needed anything, if I wanted him to bring me anything when he comes back, but then he said his flight would be late.
