EgyptAir MS804 Black Box Suggests Presence of Smoke before Crash

Two weeks after it was retrieved from the Mediterranean Sea, EgyptAir MS804 black box has confirmed the presence of smoke on board before the mysterious crash, according to the BBC.

In a statement issued yesterday, Egyptian officials said data retrieved from the cockpit recorder is consistent with electronic messages sent by the plane. The alert signals from the plane showed that smoke detectors in the toilet and below the cockpit went off minutes before the crash.

“Analysis will be carried out to try and identify the source and reasons for those signs,” the statement said.

The officials added that the recorder showed signs of high temperature damage and soot in the front section of the plane.

Two black boxes belonging to the doomed EgyptAir MS804 were pulled from the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, June 16, a month after the airbus went missing.

According to Egyptian investigators, the two recorders were severely damaged, but the search crew managed to retrieve the memory unit, which is the most important part of the black box.

The second black box is still under repair in Paris.

Cause of the Crash Still Unknown

EgytAir MS804 was travelling from France to Egypt when it mysteriously crashed into the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday, May 19, killing all 66 people on board. Initial reports indicated that the plane made a 90-degree left turn and a 360-degree turn to the right before going off the radar. But it did not send any distress signals.

Egyptian authorities had initially blamed terrorism but later asked people not to speculate until investigations are complete. Although they have not ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack, no terror group has claimed responsibility.

Since the crash, several parts of the air bus and body parts of deceased passengers have been retrieved from the Mediterranean Sea.