DATE=11/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EGYPT AIR CRASH (L)
NUMBER=2-255740
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Investigators continue looking for clues to
what caused an Egyptian airliner to plunge into the
Atlantic ocean after taking off Sunday from New York's
Kennedy airport. Correspondent Nick Simeone reports
Navy divers are hoping to soon be able to collect the
flight and voice recorders from the Boeing 7-6-7
resting in deep waters off the northeastern U-S coast.
TEXT: Friends and family members of the 217-people
killed aboard Egypt Air Flight-990 are arriving in
Rhode Island, near where jet wreckage will be brought
to be reassembled. The process is much the same as
the way wreckage from T-W-A Flight-800 was pieced
together when it exploded three-years ago after taking
off from Kennedy airport.
But this investigation is already more difficult. The
Egyptian airliner is submerged in deeper water and
further off shore than the wreckage of the T-W-A
flight. The expected arrival of rain and heavy wind
will make the process of dredging up wreckage and the
clues it may contain more difficult.
A potential breakthrough came Monday when the Coast
Guard detected what could be signals from the plane's
voice and data recorders from below the ocean surface.
The so-called black boxes could contain clues as to
why the EgyptAir flight dropped from radar screens.
But investigators say they still have no clues to the
cause of the crash. Nothing at this point is being
ruled out and a massive search involving federal
agencies, including the F-B-I is underway. Bits of
wreckage and personal belongings recovered so far
point to no sign of an explosion or sabotage.
In Newport, a memorial service is planned later
(Tuesday) for people who lost relatives on the flight.
Family members can only wait while authorities try to
find out what caused the third major air disaster in
this region in as many years. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RAE
02-Nov-1999 12:37 PM EDT (02-Nov-1999 1737 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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