EgyptAir plane crash: ‘internal explosion’ and smoke filling the cabin have been confirmed
Data from the final moments before EgyptAir flight MS804 crashed into the Mediterranean suggest an “internal explosion” tore through the right side of the aircraft, a pilot said to various press sites.
Investigators are trying to determine whether the A320 was brought down by terrorism or a technical fault. Reports have been confirmed that a series of warning indicators point to smoke filling the cabin shortly before it disappeared from radar.
French authorities confirmed that smoke detectors went off aboard the flight a few minutes before it crashed but said it was not clear what caused the smoke or fire.
The Telegraph quoted a commercial pilot with a major European airline told that other parts of the data log suggested that windows in the right side of the cockpit were blown out by an explosion inside the aircraft.
“It looks like the right front and side window were blown out, most probably from inside out,” said the pilot, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Three different warnings showed there were faults in the windows next to the co-pilot, suggesting they could have been blasted outwards by an onboard bomb, The Telegraph article detailed. That does not mean the explosion came from the cockpit but indicates the right side of the plane was more badly damaged than the left.
The aircraft’s black boxes are still missing in the Mediterannean.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian military released images of shoes, handbags and other forlorn items pulled out of the sea near the crash site. Video footage showed unused life vests and torn up parts of seats scattered across the deck of an Egyptian naval ship.