USA: EGYPTAIR FLIGHT 990 CRASH: GRIEVING RELATIVES (2)

Описание: (31 Oct 1999) English/Nat

An EgyptAir pilot says the only possible cause for the crash of Flight 990 would be an explosion or something hitting it from the air.

Captain Yousri Hamed, who regularly flies the same New York to Cairo flight, was a friend of the crashed plane's pilot.

In an exclusive interview with Associated Press Television News, he says the crew of the fated plane were highly qualified and most experienced.

For many of the relatives gathered at Cairo airport, the wait was devastating.

EgyptAir officials scanned the lists of passengers on Flight 990 as family members and friends anxiously prayed for good news.

Their grief was uncontrollable as they learnt they'd lost a friend or loved one.

The pain and sadness will rise as more and more have their deepest fears confirmed to be true.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I don't know if he's alive or in he water or under the water. I don't know now."
SUPER CAPTION: Fakhry Hassan, who has his nephew on the plane

Some 214 people were on board Flight 990 when it plunged into the ocean off Nantucket Island en route from New York to Cairo.

Searchers have so far found debris and human remains scattered across the sea but no sign of survivors.

Authorities said there was no distress call from the pilots before the Boeing 767 plummeted from 33,000 feet (9,900 metres).

Though the FBI and other intelligence agencies began checking on the possibility of sabotage, officials said there was no immediate indication of foul play.

In an exclusive interview with APTN, an EgyptAir Pilot who regularly flies the same New York to Cairo flight and who was a friend of the pilot of Flight 990 said he believed otherwise.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The only thing that can be expected is an explosion or something from outside, because it seems that something happened at once, because if anything else they have the time, the crew has the time to tell all the aircraft around them and stations on the ground...at least they have 15 minutes, 10 minutes."
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Yousri Hamed, EgyptAir pilot who flies the New York flight once a month

Hamed spoke well of the pilots and crew members on the crashed plane.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The captain who was in control was Ahmed Mohamed el-Habashy. He's one of the experienced captains, around 57 years, he's captain on this plane more than 10 years, his flight hours more than 17 or 18 thousand hours. Also the other crew is captain Hatem Rushdy is the chief pilot of the 767 and one of the most experienced captains in Egypt, so the whole crew is qualified."
SUPER CAPTION: Captain Yousri Hamed, EgyptAir Pilot who flies the New York flight once a month

EgyptAir had enjoyed a fairly good record on safety - the record for the past 13 years had been so clear that some forgot the past.

EgyptAir chairman Mohammed Fahim Rayan said on Sunday that EgyptAir has never had a fatal crash before Flight 990.

But SkyNet Research, a Northern Ireland-based developer of aviation software, noted a plane belonging to EgyptAir subsidiary Air Sinai crashed as it approached Cairo airport in bad weather in June 1986.

On that occasion 23 aboard were killed.

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