DATE=11/17/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EGYPT AIR / REACT (L)
NUMBER=2-256266
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Egyptians are reacting with disbelief to 
indications that officials investigating the crash of 
Egypt Air flight 9-9-0 believe it may have been caused 
deliberately by one of the crew members.  V-O-A 
Correspondent Scott Bobb in Cairo reports that many do  
not believe the religious verse uttered by one of the 
pilots demonstrates an intent to commit suicide.

TEXT:  Egyptians say the Koranic verse reportedly 
uttered by one of the pilots minutes before the plane 
began its death plunge is said in many stressful 
situations and does not necessarily indicate imminent 
death. 

Many expressed dismay at reports that investigators in 
the United States were preparing to hand over the case 
to the F-B-I, indicating they believe the crash was 
caused by a criminal act.

The transfer was put on hold, however, after the 
Egyptian government protested.  A delegation of senior 
Egyptian aviation officials flew to New York Wednesday 
to further examine the flight recorders.  The flight 
recorders are said to indicate the plane possibly was 
deliberately put into a fatal dive.  The recorders 
were recovered from the bottom of the sea after a two-
week salvage effort.

Investigators have not revealed the exact contents of 
the flight recorders, but sources have told the news 
media that the voice recorder indicates one of the 
pilots, who had been left alone in the cockpit shortly 
after takeoff, recited a Koranic verse.  They say the 
automatic pilot was then turned off and the nose of 
the plane was pointed into a steep, fatal dive.

Experts say this pattern does  not  appear to have 
been caused by mechanical failure, leading to 
speculation that the crash was caused deliberately by 
one of the pilots.

The news has heightened the anguish of colleagues and 
family members of the crew, who are still grieving 
over their loss.

Colleagues who worked with them emphasize that the 
pilots were professionals in good health who would 
never deliberately sacrifice the lives of hundreds of 
passengers.  Family members, meanwhile, described the 
pilots as devoted family men and they vehemently deny 
any one of them could have been suicidal.

Egypt Air flight 9-9-0 crashed into the sea shortly 
after takeoff from New York City more than two weeks 
ago, killing all 217 people aboard. (Signed)

NEB/SB/JWH/LTD/JP




17-Nov-1999 10:47 AM EDT (17-Nov-1999 1547 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.