France and Egypt at odds over cause of EgyptAir crash

A conflict is raging between France and Egypt after Cairo announced that traces of explosives were found on the remains of those who died on an EgyptAir flight earlier this year, Britain’s the Times newspaper revealed.

In an article titled “New Cairo claim that EgyptAir flight was bombed prompts row with Paris,” the newspaper reported that “traces of explosives have been found on the remains of those who died in an EgyptAir passenger jet that crashed into the Mediterranean in May, Egypt said yesterday, prompting accusations from French investigators that Cairo was seeking to cover up maintenance failures by its national airline.”

The newspaper added that the French side denied possibility for this and accused Cairo of trying to cover up its failure to carry out routine maintenance of the plane.

“The Egyptian civil aviation ministry said that a criminal investigation would be opened into the crash of Flight 804 from Paris, which killed all 66 people on board — 15 of them French — when it came down on approach to Cairo on May 19.”

However, French investigators, who should have access to the inquiry into the EgyptAir crash have complained of being barred and believe that mechanical failure was the most likely cause of the crash and was not a terrorist act.

French experts have said that the recordings retrieved from the black box in the cockpit by French authorities include a conversation between the captains and co-pilot where the captain is instructing the co-pilot to extinguish a fire.

The French experts also reported that they requested evidence indicating the existence of explosives on the remains of the passengers, but their request was denied. They added that Egypt preferred to blame terrorists rather than admitting to technical failures, and this points fingers at Charles de Gaulle airport failing to search passengers, luggage and tools before take off.

The newspaper reported that the families of the French passengers criticised the Egyptian inquiry due to its refusal to hand over their relatives’ remains. It quoted Stephane Gicquel, head of the National Federation for Victims of Attacks and Accidents, saying: “This is blackmail by the Egyptian authorities to support the terrorist thesis and protect EgyptAir.”