EgyptAir investigation direction depends on voice data
Egypt, Economics, 11/16/1999

US National Transportation Safety Board chairman Jim Hall said yesterday that no conclusions have been reached about the crash of EgyptAir flight 990, based on the evidence provided by the cockpit voice recorder which was recovered last weekend.

Hall spoke of initial difficulties because the majority of the cockpit conversation was in a foreign language (Arabic), but he added that additional translators were being used.

He also said, "We are concentrating our efforts on determining from the evidence, including the CVR, whether or not this investigation is to remain under the leadership of the NTSB." If the NTSB relinquishes the investigation, it will most likely be to the FBI. It is worth mentioning that the investigation is being done on behalf of and at the request of the Egyptian government.

The FBI had already been doing routine background investigations into the flight crew and the flight handlers and the background of some of the passengers. The transfer to the Jurisdiction of the FBI would indicate the potential of criminal intentions for the accident.

Hall said on November 14 that the tape initially "was reviewed by American and Egyptian officials, including representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation "without a clear conclusion." CNN reported this afternoon that a "prayer" was heard before the autopilot disconnected. This may indicate a recognition by the crew or the pilot of trouble ahead. No report has indicated yet on the speculation of the prayer being an indication of a pre-suicidal act by a pilot or if this so-called "prayer" is a typical religious pronouncements in recognition of the troubled state the plane is in. Hall said today that there are varying interpretations of what the words and their meaning may have been, and such are waiting for additional experts from Egypt to best interpret the Arabic dialect.

"Because of the quality of the cockpit voice recorder, and the extensive information contained on the flight data recorder, I am confident that many of the questions we have -- and you have -- will be answered," Hall said yesterday.

Late today, Hall said the investigation so far could not find a mechanical cause for the accident, and that Egyptian investigators are helping today, and more are due to arrive soon. He said based on what they will determine with Egyptian experts, a decision will made on the future course of the investigation adding "that is my decision."

Meantime, Hall indicated that the Navy was asked to contract for a salvage ship with heavy lift capability that can operate in bad weather for salvaging parts of the plane, adding that the cockpit portion of the plane has high priority for recovery.

Previous Stories:
  EgyptAir disaster answers may be very near   (11/12/1999)
  Mubarak returns to Cairo after short recovery trip   (11/11/1999)
  Preliminary data on EgyptAir crash yields few answers   (11/11/1999)

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