EgyptAir crash: Images of wreckage released

Cairo, May 22: Egypt's military on Saturday released images of wreckage and personal belongings as search continued for flight data and cockpit voice recorders belonging to an EgyptAir plane that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea.

The chunks of debris included an uninflated life vest, a seat, a purse, shoes, carpet, a scarf, parts of chairs and cushions and a sling bag. The EgyptAir label appeared on one piece of wreckage.

The plane left Paris at 11.09 on Wednesday night and was scheduled to arrive in the Egyptian capital soon at 3.15 a.m on Thursday. It disappeared from the radar screens at 2.30 a.m.

On board the plane were 56 passengers, seven crew members and three security personnel.

"The search is ongoing. It has uncovered initial pieces of the aircraft, body parts, belongings of the deceased, and it will continue hopefully until we can ascertain exactly where the plane has gone down," Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN.

The US, France, Britain, Russia and others are eager to cooperate in the search, Shoukry said, adding he anticipated assistance in finding the recorders.

On Friday, EgyptAir and Greek officials said that searchers found seats, personal belongings, and a body part. The Egyptian military said it discovered debris about 290 km north of Alexandria.

No survivors have been found. Egyptian officials have said they suspect the crash was caused by an act of terror, but no group has come forward to claim credit.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told passengers' families on Saturday that "no theory" was ruled out.

IANS