EgyptAir Flight 804 Crashes Over Mediterranean

The aviation accident attorneys at the Bohrer & Lukeman law firm are closely following the story of an EgyptAir plane that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea while making the journey from Paris to Cairo. EgyptAir Flight 804, an Airbus A320 jetliner, crashed early on the morning of Thursday, May 19 and had 66 people onboard.

The plane departed from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France late at night on May 18 and was carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew members. The flight should have only lasted 3.5 hours but after entering Egyptian airspace the plane disappeared from radar.

Shortly before the airplane crash, the aircraft swerved sharply and then plunged from cruising altitude at around 37,000 feet to just 10,000 feet. According to Greek officials, the plane then violently flew in a circle before disappearing from radar screens.

The plane was in touch with air traffic controllers in Greece just a few minutes before the erratic movements. Sudden extreme movements like those experienced by Flight 804 are highly unusual and suggest some kind of in-flight emergency, according to aviation safety experts.

Shortly after the crash, authorities began an intense search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean Sea focused near the Greek island of Karpathos, between Crete and Rhodes. Just a day after the operation began, an Egyptian naval vessel discovered debris that is likely from the downed flight.

The items found include human remains, a few seats from the plane, at least one suitcase, and pieces of the plane. The debris was found about 180 miles north of Alexandria, Egypt in the Mediterranean Sea.

In an interview with international media, an Egyptian Army spokesman, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Samir, said that the debris is undoubtedly from the EgyptAir flight. The search operation was performed by authorities from Egypt, Britain, Cyprus, France, Greece and Italy.

Quickly after news of the downed flight reached government agencies, Egypt’s minister of civil aviation, Sherif Fathi, said that terrorism seems to be a more likely cause for the disappearance than mechanical failure. Yet, he cautioned that it was premature to make a sure judgment.

Investigators from France, Britain, and an expert from Airbus have joined the team of Egyptian investigators that will help make the determination as to what exactly brought the plane down. They hope to recover the plane’s flight data recorders and inspect other pieces of debris as they are found.

As search-and-rescue teams continue to uncover wreckage from Flight 804, suspicion has arisen over the plane’s location the 24 hours before the crash. The plane made stops in Eritrea and Tunisia, countries that have been critiqued in the past for their weak security standards.

In May 2015, the United States State department warned that the Asmara International Airport in Eritrea showed a “lack of efficiency and consistency” in screening air travelers.

In a statement released by the office of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt, he said: “The presidency, with utmost sadness and regret, mourns the victims on aboard the EgyptAir flight who were killed after the plane crashed in the Mediterranean.”

EgyptAir also expressed its condolences to those lost on the flight. “EgyptAir sincerely conveys its deepest sorrow to the families and friends of the passengers onboard Flight MS804,” the company tweeted.

The airplane crash lawyers at Bohrer & Lukeman are following each and every development associated with the EgyptAir crash.

The general aviation lawyers at Bohrer & Lukeman – based in New Jersey and New York – have over 20 years experience representing clients involved in aviation accidents. Abram Bohrer, the firm’s founder, has represented clients across the globe who have experienced aviation accidents.

The Bohrer & Lukeman airplane crash attorneys will continue to monitor the events regarding EgyptAir Flight 804 and will perform their own review of the crash. The airline accident law firm will continually update its website at www.flightinjury.com with developments from the airline accident.