The New York Times reported yesterday that French investigators, working with Egyptian counterparts, have determined the Airbus 320 that crashed in May traveling from Paris to Cairo was brought down by a fire inside the plane, near the cockpit.
Flight path of Egypt 804Source: CBC
While the exact location and nature of the fire are, as of yet, unknown, the evidence rules out what had been one of the more disturbing theories, that the plane was brought down by deliberate pilot action. The digital data recorder and voice recorder also seem to provide information that eliminates the likelihood of a bomb. There is still a possibility that the fire was started deliberately but the most likely scenario is that some equipment malfunction in the electrical bay caused a fire which rapidly grew uncontrollable. In 1998 a similar malfunction brought down Swissair 111, an MD-11, off the coast of Nova Scotia not long after it left New York for Geneva.
According to the investigators, the voice recorder indicated normal cockpit chatter until the captain suddenly declared there was a fire onboard and asked the first officer to grab the fire extinguisher. Those were the last words spoken just before the plane plunged out of control towards the ocean, breaking up as it fell.
The task now falls on investigators to positively identify the source and reason for the fire and to suggest changes which will lead to improvements in safety.
The New York Times reported yesterday that French investigators, working with Egyptian counterparts, have determined the Airbus 320 that crashed in May traveling from Paris to Cairo was brought down by a fire inside the plane, near the cockpit.
Flight path of Egypt 804Source: CBC
While the exact location and nature of the fire are, as of yet, unknown, the evidence rules out what had been one of the more disturbing theories, that the plane was brought down by deliberate pilot action. The digital data recorder and voice recorder also seem to provide information that eliminates the likelihood of a bomb. There is still a possibility that the fire was started deliberately but the most likely scenario is that some equipment malfunction in the electrical bay caused a fire which rapidly grew uncontrollable. In 1998 a similar malfunction brought down Swissair 111, an MD-11, off the coast of Nova Scotia not long after it left New York for Geneva.
According to the investigators, the voice recorder indicated normal cockpit chatter until the captain suddenly declared there was a fire onboard and asked the first officer to grab the fire extinguisher. Those were the last words spoken just before the plane plunged out of control towards the ocean, breaking up as it fell.
The task now falls on investigators to positively identify the source and reason for the fire and to suggest changes which will lead to improvements in safety.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are on this article.
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.