EgyptAir Flight 804 Crash: Smoking Pilot Or Explosion?

In 2016, an EgyptAir jet had a deadly crash, whereas flying between France and Egypt. In 2022, French authorities launched their report into what occurred. Now in 2024, Egyptian authorities have printed their report on the accident. Not surprisingly, the 2 events have come to very totally different conclusions.

Fundamentals of the crash of EgyptAir flight 804

On Could 16, 2016, EgyptAir flight MS804 crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, killing all 66 individuals onboard, together with 56 passengers and 10 crew members (sure, EgyptAir has very huge crews). The flight was working from Paris (CDG) to Cairo (CAI) utilizing an Airbus A320 when the accident happened.

Inside days of the accident, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry claimed that the flight was most likely attacked. The main idea initially was that there was a bomb on the aircraft, as some officers claimed that monitoring gear targeted on the world detected proof of an explosion onboard the plane. Moreover, Egyptian authorities claimed that traces of explosives had been discovered on the our bodies of some victims.

As extra particulars began to be launched, the extra widespread idea was that there was a hearth on the plane. That’s as a result of within the minutes main as much as the crash, messages despatched by way of ACARS (the plane reporting system) indicated that smoke was detected on the entrance of the jet, within the ahead bathroom and avionics bay.

Egypt & France disagree on reason behind EgyptAir crash

Each Egyptian and French authorities have now launched their studies into the reason for this crash. More often than not, aviation investigators do an unbelievable job going by way of proof and coming to a logical conclusion. Nonetheless, Egyptian authorities have a historical past of coming to totally different conclusions than different investigators, particularly when Egyptian airways are concerned. With that in thoughts, let’s have a look at the 2 studies…

EgyptAir crash attributable to smoking pilot (France)

In April 2022, France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Evaluation for Civil Aviation (BEA) printed its report on the crash of EgyptAir flight 804, and concluded that it occurred as a result of a pilot smoking within the cockpit.

In accordance with this report, Pilot Mohamed Mentioned Shoukair smoked in the midst of the flight, which was truly allowed below EgyptAir’s guidelines on the time. His cigarette triggered oxygen to combust, because it was leaking from an oxygen masks within the cockpit, inflicting a spark, after which hearth to interrupt out.

This was decided primarily based on black field information that captured the sound of the oxygen hissing. The oxygen masks had been changed simply three days earlier than the crash by a upkeep employee, however for unknown causes, the discharge valve was set to the emergency place, which may result in leaks.

EgyptAir crash attributable to explosives onboard (Egypt)

When France launched its report, Egyptian authorities dismissed the findings as unfounded, however didn’t initially current their very own report. Now in October 2024, the Egypt Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) has printed its report into what occurred on EgyptAir flight 804.

Egyptian authorities agree that there was hearth and smoke on the plane, which finally triggered the aircraft to crash. What they disagree on, although, is the trigger. Egyptian authorities argue that this resulted from the consequences of explosive materials that was positioned on the ahead galley, simply behind the rear part of the cockpit.

The fireplace and smoke occasion happened rapidly, and unfold to the cockpit, inflicting the flight techniques to be disabled. Moreover, the oxygen move within the cockpit enriched the hearth and smoke.

Extra particularly, they argue that two explosive substances (TNT and DNT) have been positioned within the galley carts positioned within the ahead galley space, immediately behind the cockpit, and so they detonated after a set period of time. That is primarily based on a declare that the ahead galley space wreckage confirmed a stress wave from the within to the skin.

So, why do Egyptian authorities reject the conclusion of French authorities? They make a number of arguments:

• If there was a leak within the oxygen system within the cockpit, the oxygen cylinder would have been depleted in a shorter time, which isn’t appropriate with the hissing sound time interval heard within the cockpit voice recorder
• Based mostly on the cockpit voice recorder, the pilots didn’t use a hearth extinguisher within the cockpit, which they might’ve executed if the hearth originated there
• Based mostly on the flight information recorder, the “bathroom smoke” warning was recorded earlier than the primary “avionics smoke” warning, suggesting the state of affairs began outdoors of the cockpit
• Wire insulations, that are most delicate to warmth results, have been intact, resulting in the conclusion that the temperature wasn’t excessive sufficient to have an effect on wire insulation, and subsequently the hearth didn’t originate within the cockpit
• Examination of human stays reveals accidents related to explosive supplies, together with the explosion of TNT materials and the presence of some burn marks

I’ve gotta say, Egypt’s idea doesn’t essentially sound that unreasonable. There are 4 main causes to be skeptical, although:

• Egypt claimed terrorism because the trigger shortly after the crash, even earlier than all proof was collected; it’s virtually like authorities got down to show that idea
• The cockpit voice recorder didn’t document the sound of an explosion, which is form of an vital element
• Egypt is actually suggesting this was terrorism, although nobody took credit score for the assault, so what would the motive have been?
• Egyptian authorities have a questionable document on the subject of transparency and the conclusions they arrive to; in addition they insist that the 1999 crash of EgyptAir flight 990 was due a mechanical failure, quite than one of many pilots deliberately crashing the aircraft into the bottom (which the remainder of the world principally agrees is what occurred)