French investigators say pilots of crashed Flash Airlines aircraft unaware of situation

Airline Industry Information, Feb 9, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The pilots of a Flash Airlines aircraft that crashed on 3 January 2004 were reportedly unaware of the crisis until a few seconds before the incident.

The aircraft crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Shiek, bound for Paris, France via Cairo. All 148 people on board were killed, including 134 French tourists.

The director of France's Bureau of Accident Investigations also reiterated that the aircraft was not brought down by a terrorist attack or a passenger in the cockpit.

However, the head of the Egyptian investigation team does not agree with comments that the pilots did not realise the seriousness of the situation until three seconds before the crash, reported The Associated Press.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))