Death and Denial: The Tragic Crash of EgyptAir 990
Table of Contents:
I. Introduction
II. The Flight and Its Passengers
III. The Crash and Its Aftermath
IV. The Investigation Begins
V. Theories and Controversies
VI. The FBI's Involvement
VII. The Pilot's Background
VIII. The NTSB's Report
IX. Egypt's Response
X. Conclusion
Article:
Introduction
On October 31, 1999, EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 217 people on board. The flight had departed from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City and was en route to Cairo, Egypt. The crash was one of the most controversial in aviation history, as investigators struggled to determine the cause of the disaster. The investigation would uncover a Hidden mechanical flaw in one of the world's most popular airliners and challenge the strength of an international friendship between two allies.
The Flight and Its Passengers
EgyptAir Flight 990 was a Boeing 767 bound for Cairo, Egypt. The flight had 217 people on board, including 100 Americans, 89 Egyptians, 21 Canadians, and seven victims of other nationalities. Many of the passengers were senior citizens from the United States looking forward to touring the wonders of ancient Egypt. Others were traveling to visit family or for business purposes. The flight also had 14 of EgyptAir's experienced crew members operating the flight, as well as 33 Egyptian military officers and pilots returning after training with the American armed forces.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
Just after 1 am on October 31, 1999, the 217 people on board EgyptAir Flight 990 were waiting for takeoff. The flight's command captain was Captain Ahmed al-Habashi, who had been with EgyptAir for 36 years. The command first officer was 36-year-old Adele Anwar, who had switched duty with another co-pilot so he could return home in time for his wedding. The airline's chief pilot for the Boeing 767, Captain Hatim Rushdie, joined them in the cockpit.
At 20 past one in the morning, first officer Adele Anwar was going through his takeoff clearance with air traffic control. Following Gateway clear for takeoff, Runway 2-2 right, Egypt at 990 heavy crew advised in the name of God the merciful the compassionate cabin crew takeoff position after an everyday blessing. The co-pilot assists the takeoff, and for safety, both pilots push the throttles. On a flight of 10 hours, it's standard practice at EgyptAir to provide a relief crew to share the flying duties. The command crew takes off and lands, and the relief crew flies the middle portion. Tonight, Captain Ralph Nur Eldin and first officer Gamil El-Batuti are the relief crew. They will take over after the first three or four hours and fly the plane until shortly before Cairo.
Just over 20 minutes after takeoff, El-Batuti is about to leave his seat. "Hello Jimmy, how are You?" Captain al-Habashi asks. "How are you, sir? What's news?" El-Batuti responds. "I slept, I swear," he says. "Just wait, let me tell you something. I'm not going to sleep at all. I might come sit for two hours one day." "I slept, I slept," El-Batuti says. "You mean you're not going to get up?" Captain al-Habashi asks. "You will get up. Go and take some rest and come back. You should have told me this. You should have told me this, Captain Gamil. You should have said, 'Adele, did I even see you?' I will work first. Just leave me a message." The younger first officer seems surprised that El-Batuti wants to replace him so early in the flight. "I'm not sleeping, so you take your time sleeping, and when you wake up, whenever you wake up, you come back, Captain. Okay, I'll come either way. Come and work the last few hours, and that's all. It's not like that. That's not the point. Look, if you want to sit here, there is no problem. I'll come back to you. I'll go get something to eat and come back. All right, fine, fine. Look here, why don't you go? Why don't they bring your dinner to you here, and then I'll go sleep? Okay, that's good. Okay, with your permission, Captain." With that, El-Batuti leaves to get his meal.
Before the captain returns, disaster will strike EgyptAir Flight 990. The fate of everyone on board will be in the hands of the co-pilot, the man who shouldn't be here in the first place.
The Investigation Begins
The investigation into the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 began immediately after the disaster. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) led the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI checked for evidence of bombs, terrorists, or terrorist targets on the flight, trying to determine if anything unusual was loaded on the plane. Investigators in two countries developed two different theories: was this a tragic accident or a terrible crime?
Theories and Controversies
The investigation into the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 developed in two directions: fault in the airplane and pilot action. Rumors swirled about what or who may have caused this terrible crash. One of the key questions was why the relief first officer was in the cockpit hours earlier than expected. He was supposed to replace Adele Anwar much later in the flight. The FBI focused on Gamil El-Batuti and the question of motive. The FBI learned that two years before the crash, two young women reported that El-Batuti called them on their hotel room phone, telling them to look out the window across the courtyard. When they did, they saw El-Batuti exposing himself and reported the incident to hotel security. His provocative behavior would Continue. A hotel maid told the FBI that the night before the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990, El-Batuti had sexually harassed her again.
The Pilot's Background
The investigation into the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 focused on the character and history of relief first officer Gamil El-Batuti. He was 59 years old, approaching 60, and had Never risen above the rank of first officer. He had personal issues in his own life, including financial problems and family members needing medical Attention. He was notorious for leering at and bothering female guests and hotel staff. The FBI learned that El-Batuti had sexually harassed a hotel maid the night before the crash.
The NTSB's Report
After a nearly $10 million investigation over two years and five months, the NTSB published its report on the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990. The probable cause of the accident was the airplane's departure from normal cruise flight and subsequent impact with the Atlantic Ocean as a result of the relief first officer's flight control inputs. The Egyptian civil aviation authority responded angrily, and their response Read in part, "It is obvious that the NTSB has not done the Type of professional accident investigation expected by the Egyptian government."
Egypt's Response
Cultural differences were not the only impediments to this investigation. When the FBI attempted to get into El-Batuti's background, it became a very sensitive issue for the Egyptian government. The FBI's efforts to learn about El-Batuti's personal life and family relations were stymied. The investigation could end up in the hands of the FBI alone.
Conclusion
The crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 remains a painful mystery for many of the broken and damaged families. For many of them, answers to how and why this plane crashed will forever be a painful mystery. The investigation into the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 challenged the strength of an international friendship between two allies and uncovered a hidden mechanical flaw in one of the world's most popular airliners.
