EgyptAir flight MS804: Search crews find body part as well as seats and luggage from missing jet, say Egyptian authorities

Hatty Collier21 May 2016

A body part, seats and luggage have been found floating in the sea from the EgyptAir flight MS804, according to Egyptian authorities.

The Egyptian navy announced it discovered debris from the flight, which crashed with 66 passengers and crew onboard, 180 miles north of the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria.

Military officials said in a statement that they had found some of the passengers’ belongings and were sweeping the area for the aircraft’s black box.

Egyptian navy engaged in search operations for missing EgyptAir flight MS804
EPA

Greece’s defence minister Panos Kammenos said a body part, two seats and suitcases were found in the search area for the wreckage of the Airbus 320.

He said Egyptian authorities had found the debris from the downed passenger jet slightly to the south of where the aircraft vanished from radar signals on Thursday.

The plane swerved wildly before plunging into the sea on a flight from Paris to Cairo at 1.45am UK time soon after entering Egyptian airspace, sparking fears of a terrorist attack.

A team of Egyptian, French and British investigators and an expert from Airbus - will inspect what the army has found, according to Egyptian officials.

Egyptian President Adbel Fattah al-Sisi offered his condolences to the families of those on board, issuing a statement expressing “deep regret and sadness for the victims".

It added: “God give great mercy and host them in his heaven."

Families of the victims spent last night in a hotel in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, while they awaited the news of their loved ones.

Some arrived from Paris late on Thursday, among them eight relatives of the 15 French passengers on board the missing jet.

British father-of-two Richard Osman has been named among those killed in the crash as details of the other 55 passengers and 10 crew emerged today.

The UK, France, Greece, Italy and Cyprus had all joined the search for the wreckage, Egypt's defence ministry said.

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