On 31 October 1999, at about 0152 EST, EgyptAir Flight 990, a Boeing 767, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean around 60 miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, killing all 217 people on board. Ten years later, Amirah Ibrahim returns to the day of horror and examines the strong assertions by the US National Transportation Safety Board that the jet's relief first officer intentionally brought the plane down in a suicide bid. The NTSB contention sharply contrasts with the position of EgyptAir that the downing of the plane was not deliberate The doomed Boeing THE AIRPLANE, a Boeing 767-366ER (767) SU-GAP, was delivered new to EgyptAir in 1989. According to EgyptAir records, it had 33,354 total hours of operation at the time of the accident. It was configured to seat a maximum of 10 first-class, 22 business- class, and 185 economy-class passengers and to carry cargo. The plane was equipped with two P&W 4060 turbofan engines. EgyptAir Flight 990 was being operated as a scheduled, international flight from JFK Airport, New York, to Cairo International Airport. The flight departed JFK with four flight crew members, 10 flight attendants, and 203 passengers on board. Flight recorders THE FDR and CVR were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean by US Navy remote- operated vehicles on 9 November and 14 November 1999, respectively. Upon recovery, they were immediately packed in water to prevent the onset of corrosion and shipped to the Safety Board's laboratory in Washington DC for a read out. Two transcripts were prepared of the entire 31-minute, 30-second recording, one in Arabic/English words and phrases exactly as spoken on the accident flight and the other with Arabic words translated to English. The Cockpit Voice Recorder group provided as direct a translation as possible, without attempting to interpret the words or the intent of the speaker. The direct translation of Arabic words into English has resulted occasionally in awkward or seemingly inappropriate phrases. Relief first officer GAMIL El-Battouti, the relief first officer, age 59, was hired by EgyptAir in 1987. He held an Egyptian commercial pilot certificate with 737-200 and 767-200 and -300 type ratings. El-Battouti was found to be medically fit with no family history of major medical difficulties and did not complain of headaches, indigestion, or other medical problems before the accident. His most recent proficiency check was satisfactorily completed on 19 June 1999. At the time of the accident, he had flown approximately 12,538 total flight hours, including 5,191 hours in the 767. The Safety Board's review of EgyptAir training records for El-Battouti indicated he had accomplished all required check rides and performed all required manoeuvres.
