DATE=1/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EGYPT AIR SITREP (L)
NUMBER=2-258299
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Nearly three months into the investigation of
the October crash of EgyptAir flight 990, U-S air
safety investigators still have no evidence suggesting
the New York-to-Cairo flight was brought down by
mechanical failure. Correspondent Nick Simeone brings
us up to date on the search for clues to a crash that
took the lives of all 217 people on board.
TEXT: Most of the wreckage of the Boeing 7-67 has
now been recovered from waters off the Massachusetts
coast. But the National Transportation Safety Board
still has no evidence suggesting equipment failure
caused the crash. In fact, one N-T-S-B official says
all evidence points to a plane that was in fine
working condition.
It is still relatively early in the investigation,
judging by the fact that other crash probes -- such as
T-W-A 800 -- have dragged on for years. Still,
aviation experts say an old theory may have to be
revisited -- that an EgyptAir pilot - for some unknown
reason - may have decided to take the plane down in a
suicidal mission that took the lives of everyone on
board. /// OPT /// Law enforcement sources had told
reporters early in the case that prayer-like remarks
heard in Arabic on the cockpit voice recorder may have
been the final words of a suicidal relief pilot alone
in the cockpit at the time. /// END OPT ///
William Waldock teaches an accident investigation
course at Arizona's Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University.
/// WALDOCK ACT ///
From everything that I've seen, it looks at this
point like mechanical failure is not going to be
an issue and of course the only other real
plausible causal element would have to be human
factors.
/// END ACT ///
The Egyptian government, which owns EgyptAir, refuses
to accept pilot sabotage as the cause of the crash,
citing cultural reasons and concerned about legal
implications.
But some experts say U-S investigators may end up
turning the case over to Egypt to draw the conclusion
on its own.
/// REST OPT ///
Michael Barr is director of aviation safety programs
at the University of Southern California.
/// BARR ACT ///
It's best that we allow the Egyptians to finish
the investigation. Now we have two cultures in
conflict. And I think probably in my opinion
the best thing that could happen is that we did
our part of the investigation. We brought the
evidence up. We presented the evidence to the
Egyptians. Now the Egyptians are going to have
to come up with a conclusion for that event and
Americans will not even come into the
conclusions.
/// END ACT ///
Until then, families of the 217 people killed in the
crash continue to wait for answers. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/JO
21-Jan-2000 14:19 PM EDT (21-Jan-2000 1919 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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