EGYPT AIR: Experts say it may have been terrorists

May 19, 2016 6:28 pm

By Alana Cerrone

acerrone@abc6.com

@Alana_Cerrone

The search continues for remains of the missing Egypt Air flight. The plane disappeared after taking off from France and officials say terrorists may be responsible.

Debris found near the suspected crash site was originally thought to be from the plane, but those reports have since been disqualified.

Investigators are continuing their search for clues into what caused the aircraft to swerve mid-flight and suddenly disappear from radar before crashing into the Mediterranean Sea.

Experts say early indications point to a bomb on board, and if it winds up being in the cargo bay, that could mean a bag handler or someone else who had access.

The Airbus A-320 had 66 people on board when it left Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris headed for Cairo Wednesday night. With only about 20 minutes left in the four hour flight, the plane made a 90-degree left turn, completely spun around, and plummeted from 38,000-feet before vanishing from radar in Egyptian airspace.

Egyptian and Russian officials say it may have been brought down by terrorists.

There was no immediate claim from militants that they had downed the plane.

No American passengers were reported to be onboard. Egyptian security officials say they’re running background checks on all the passengers to see if any had links to extremists.

If it was in fact terrorism, this would be the second deadly attack involving Egyptian aviation in the last seven months.