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)
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Source: Voice of America
.