Explosive Traces Found On EgyptAir Crash Victims

December 15, 2016

Egyptian authorities investigating the crash of an EgyptAir plane in May said they have found traces of explosives on the bodies of some of the victims.

EgyptAir flight MS804, flying from Paris to Cairo, crashed into the Mediterranean on May 19, killing all 66 on board.

There will now be a criminal investigation into the cause of the crash, Egypt’s civil aviation body said.

Le Figaro said in September that French investigators had found traces of explosives on the wreckage, but they were prevented from further examination of crash debris after detecting the traces.

Audio from the aircraft’s cockpit voice recorder mentioned a fire on board the plane in its final moments. Initial analysis of the flight data recorder showed there had been smoke in the lavatory and avionics bay, while recovered wreckage showed signs of high temperature damage.

France, which had 15 nationals on the doomed plane, said its investigations were continuing but could draw no conclusions yet as to the cause of the crash.

France said it remains at the disposal of Egypt to help in the investigation.

(Airwise)