Terrorism more likely caused EgyptAir crash: Cairo

Egypt’s aviation minister says an EgyptAir plane was more likely brought down over the Mediterranean Sea by a terror attack than a technical fault.

According to Press TV, speaking at a news conference in Cairo on Thursday, Sherif Fathy said that he did not want to draw conclusions, but the possibility of terrorism as cause of the Airbus A320 crash was “stronger” than technical problems.

The remarks came hours after the EgyptAir flight MS804 en route from Paris to Cairo disappeared from radar with six passengers and ten crew on board.

The aircraft was flying at 37,000 feet (11,300 meters) when it went missing over the eastern Mediterranean.

Elsewhere in his comments, the Egyptian minister stressed that there was no security issues with the passengers, but further checks were underway.

Search efforts were focused near the Greek island of Karpathos, he added.

Meanwhile, the head of Russia’s FSB security service Alexander Bortnikov told RIA news agency that the plane crash was “in all likelihood” caused by a terrorist act.

Egypt’s chief prosecutor also stated that an “urgent investigation” was ordered into the incident.

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail further noted that it was too early to rule out any explanation for the incident, including terrorism.

SS