DATE=8/11/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=EGYPTAIR CRASH / REACT (S/L)=
NUMBER=2-65374
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:



INTRO: U-S aviation officials have released 16- 
hundred pages of documents from the investigation into 
the crash last October of Egypt Air flight 990,
in which 217 people were killed. The officials are 
refusing to speculate on what caused the crash, which 
occurred shortly after takeoff from New York 
City. U-S news media speculated at the time it was 
caused deliberately by an off-duty pilot on board. But 
Egyptian officials say the crash was due to mechanical 
failure and Friday family members of the late pilot 
rejected the latest account of events. Correspondent 
Scott Bobb reports from Cairo.

TEXT: The family of the co-pilot at the controls of 
the ill-fated Egypt Air flight has dismissed the 
latest developments as part of a campaign to cover 
up the real cause of the accident. The nephew of the 
co-pilot (Gamil Batouti) and spokesman for the family, 
Walid Batouti, told V-O-A he has gathered evidence 
indicating the plane was brought down by a missile.

            /// 1ST BATOUTI ACT ///

      There is a cover-up. Whether the plane was 
      downed by mistake, whether the plane was downed 
      because there was another reason, and this is 
      going to be something between the two countries, 
      we have no idea, we have no idea.

            /// END ACT ///

Egyptian officials say the crash was caused by 
mechanical failure in the tail of the craft. Mr. 
Batouti wonders why salvagers have not recovered this 
piece of equipment, which is central to this theory.

/// REST OPT ///

The investigation documents were released Friday, 
hours after a major U-S newspaper, USA Today, 
published a story alleging the co-pilot at the time 
was under investigation for exposing himself while at 
a hotel in New York. 

Mr. Batouti finds this allegation suspicious.

            /// 2ND BATOUTI ACT ///

      From the beginning I smelled a very bad smell, 
      especially when the USA Today report comes out 
      today. This is a planned campaign. And they are 
      not playing fair. 
   

            /// END ACT ///

Most of the families of the crew of the ill-fated 
plane have gone into seclusion, fearing another media 
onslaught like the one last October which angered 
Egyptians and many others in the Arab world. (signed) 

NEB/SB/FC 



11-Aug-2000 16:23 PM EDT (11-Aug-2000 2023 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.