Egyptian State of Emergency: EgyptAir Flight 804

On May 20, 2016, the Egyptian government declared a state of emergency following the disappearance of EgyptAir Flight 804 over the Mediterranean Sea. The flight, which was traveling from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to Cairo International Airport, vanished from radar screens in the early hours of the morning.

Background

EgyptAir Flight 804 was an Airbus A320-232 that departed Paris on May 19, 2016, at approximately 11:09 PM local time, carrying 66 people onboard, including 56 passengers, 7 crew members, and 3 security personnel. The flight was expected to reach its destination in Cairo after a scheduled flight duration of around four hours.

Disappearance and Search Operations

At approximately 2:30 AM Egypt local time, while flying at an altitude of 37,000 feet, the aircraft disappeared from radar approximately 10 miles into Egyptian airspace. The last known contact with the plane was made just before it exited Greek airspace. Initial search efforts were immediately concentrated in the Mediterranean Sea, with Greek and Egyptian authorities working in cooperation.

Wreckage believed to be from the missing aircraft was discovered on May 20, near the Karpathos island, situated south-east of the Greek mainland. The wreckage was later confirmed to be that of EgyptAir Flight 804, putting an end to the immediate search for the aircraft.

Impact and Egyptian Government’s Response

In response to the tragic disappearance of the flight, the Egyptian government declared a state of emergency, a measure that allowed for heightened security and resource allocation to aid recovery and investigative efforts. Search and rescue operations included aircraft and ships from several nations contributing to the recovery of debris and black boxes over subsequent days.

Conclusion and Aftermath

As the investigation unfolded, all 66 individuals onboard were confirmed deceased. The incident prompted an international investigation involving Egyptian, French, American, and other authorities to uncover the cause behind the disappearance and crash. The tragedy of EgyptAir Flight 804 highlighted ongoing concerns about aviation security and the safety measures needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.