DATE=12/8/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EGYPTAIR SITREP (L/S)
NUMBER=2-256977
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Six weeks after the crash of EgyptAir flight
990 off the U-S coast, federal air safety
investigators are still trying to find out what caused
the disaster. The F-B-I is continuing to look into
whether the New York-to-Cairo flight was brought down
by a criminal act. Correspondent Nick Simeone brings
us the latest in the on-going investigation into a
tragedy that killed 217 people.
TEXT: The F-B-I is moving ahead with its
investigation of the EgyptAir crash, even though the
probe still officially remains in the hands of the
National Transportation Safety Board. No cause has
been ruled out and all leads are being pursued.
A half dozen F-B-I agents have been in Cairo
conducting interviews and going over the list of the
plane's cargo. F-B-I Spokesman Joe Valiquette says
they are investigating everyone associated with the
October 31st flight.
/// VALIQUETTE ACT ///
Such things as identifying all airport personnel
and airline personnel who may have come in
contact with the plane, those people who service
the plane, fuel the plane, clean the plane,
change the movies on the plane, put food on the
plane, anybody who had access to the plane.
/// END ACT ///
Law enforcement sources say it's just a matter of time
before the F-B-I takes the lead in a criminal
investigation, meaning the National Transportation
Safety Board would be ruling out the possibility that
the plane was brought down by mechanical failure.
/// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
The Egyptian government remains critical of early
speculation by some U-S officials that a suicidal
relief pilot, alone in the cockpit at the time, may
have deliberately crashed the plane for some unknown
reason. But Charles Weston, owner of Philadelphia's
Carlson Wagonlit Travel, believes Egypt's tourism
industry is likely to suffer more if the cause of the
crash is ruled to be mechanical failure, not pilot
sabotage.
/// WESTON ACT ///
I think in that case, it would have a downward
effect on Egyptian tourism because people would
be a little bit afraid it might happen again.
If it was ruled to be pilot sabotage, in that
case I would certainly understand that as the
act of one deranged individual and not worry
about the long term.
/// END ACT ///
Meanwhile, salvage operations are underway in waters
off the Massachusetts coast to try to recover human
remains and as much of the plane as possible, as
investigators hope for more clues into a crash that
still remains a mystery. (Signed)
NEB/NJS/TVM/gm
08-Dec-1999 16:49 PM EDT (08-Dec-1999 2149 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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