On May 19, 2016, EgyptAir Flight MS804, an Airbus A320, tragically crashed while en route from Paris to Cairo. All 66 people on board were lost. The aircraft disappeared from radar about 30 minutes before it was due to land in Cairo, shortly after entering Egyptian airspace. The plane’s final position was over the Mediterranean Sea, and wreckage was later recovered in the sea between Crete and Egypt. French President François Hollande confirmed the crash early on.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Crash
Flight MS804 departed Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport at 11:09 PM local time on May 18. It was scheduled to land at Cairo International Airport the following morning. However, at 2:29 AM local time, radar and communication systems lost contact with the aircraft while it was at an altitude of 37,000 feet.
Shortly before losing contact, the aircraft deviated from its flight path, turning 90 degrees left and 360 degrees right before it disappeared from radar. Greek air traffic controllers who were handling the flight at the time received no distress call or other indication of an emergency. The sudden nature of the incident raised immediate concerns about potential mechanical failure, human error, or even terrorism.
Investigation and Wreckage Recovery
The Egyptian and French authorities, along with international partners, quickly initiated an investigation. The search for the wreckage focused on the Mediterranean Sea, where initial debris, including parts of the fuselage, personal items, and human remains, were found. The underwater search lasted for several weeks until the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, often referred to as the black boxes, were recovered.
The preliminary findings indicated that the aircraft’s smoke alarms had been triggered in the lavatory and avionics bay minutes before contact was lost, which suggested the presence of smoke or fire on board. However, without more conclusive evidence, the investigation remained open to various potential causes, including a possible explosion.
Potential Causes of the Crash
Several hypotheses were considered in the investigation of the EgyptAir Flight MS804 disaster:
1. Terrorist Attack: Given the geopolitical context, terrorism was initially considered a potential cause of the crash. However, no terrorist organization claimed responsibility, and no explosive traces were immediately confirmed.
2. Mechanical Failure or Fire: The activation of smoke detectors in the aircraft’s avionics bay and lavatory indicated that a fire might have occurred on board. Aircraft fires, especially those affecting critical systems like the avionics, can lead to the rapid loss of control and communications.
3. Human Error or Sabotage: While pilot error was considered, there was no immediate evidence to suggest this. Additionally, no known mechanical sabotage had been confirmed during the investigation.
Aircraft Specifications
The Airbus A320 is a highly reliable, widely used narrow-body airliner designed for short to medium-haul flights. EgyptAir’s A320 operating as Flight MS804 was fitted with modern avionics systems, which usually provide redundant safeguards in the event of technical issues.
The aircraft was 13 years old at the time of the incident and had undergone routine maintenance checks. Its design includes multiple redundancies in terms of flight controls and communication systems. These factors raised additional questions as to how such a catastrophe could occur without a prior distress call or warning.
Legal and International Repercussions
In the aftermath of the crash, France and Egypt, alongside other international entities, conducted a joint investigation into the crash’s cause. Families of the victims from multiple countries, including France, Egypt, and Canada, sought answers, compensation, and closure. This tragic event further highlighted the importance of improved safety measures in aviation, particularly in handling in-flight fires or communication breakdowns.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned from Flight MS804
The EgyptAir Flight MS804 disaster underscored the ongoing risks that modern aviation can face, from potential mechanical failures to the broader security landscape. The incident also called attention to the need for enhanced fire detection and suppression systems in critical areas of aircraft, such as the avionics bay, as well as more robust investigation and cooperation protocols between countries when tragedies like this occur.
The loss of 66 lives served as a stark reminder of the importance of aviation safety and the continuous efforts required to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The investigation continued for several years, as authorities worked to determine the exact circumstances that led to this devastating loss.
