Unknown Islamists claim Egyptian plane attack

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=433160&section=news ^

[Otis Mukinfus]

Excellent!

[CyberAnt]

"the French public"

Hmmmm? I've been wondering what the French public would do if this turned out to be a terrorist attack ..?? Chirac keeps resisting getting involved in the WOT .. and now the French may have been attacked anyway. Interesting ..??

[Dont Mention the War]

An anonymous caller claiming to represent a previously unknown Islamic group

I've identified him. His name is Bartrous al-Simpsoon.

[DannyTN]

"Both are equally frustrating in their own way."

Agreed no credibility.

But if it turns out to be terrorism, this illustrates once again that appeasement will not satisfy aggressors. France bends over backwards to appease the Muslims and what do they get???

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"copilot, Gameel El-Batouty, was alone in the cockpit when he disconnected the autopilot and sent the plane downward"

"While the pilot, Mahmoud el-Habashy, tried to bring the plane out of its dive, El-Batouty continued to keep it heading downward and shut off the engines"

So which is it?

[Bobby777]

I think one of the pilots left the cockpit ... Batouty went in and ordered a rookie pilot out of the seat ... while they were gone he shut off the engines ... the senior officer returned and attempted to restart ... this is what I remember from the articles ...

[Huber]

What's all this then about unknown Islamists? Isn't there a Tomb of the Unknown Islamist in Jaffa where every half-hour, people can watch the changing of the jihadi, God willing?

[Capt. Tom]

"copilot, Gameel El-Batouty, was alone in the cockpit when he disconnected the autopilot and sent the plane downward"

"While the pilot, Mahmoud el-Habashy, tried to bring the plane out of its dive, El-Batouty continued to keep it heading downward and shut off the engines"

So which is it?

The Pilot had left the co- pilot alone for a few minutes then came back in. Here is the transcript. - Tom

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/egyptair_transcript000811.html

El Batouty: Look, here’s the new first officer’s pen. Give it to him please. God spare you.
(unidentified voice):Yeah. El Batouty: To make sure it doesn’t get lost.
El Habashy: Excuse me, Jimmy, while I take a quick trip to the toilet ... (whirring sound similar to electric seat motor operating; sound of click; sound similar to cockpit door operating)

El Batouty: Go ahead, please. (sound of several clicks)
El Habashy: ... before it gets crowded. While they are eating, and I’ll get back to you.
(sound similar to cockpit door operating; sound of thunk; sound of clink) (unidentified voice): [three unintelligible syllables] (sound of click and thump)
El Batouty: I rely on God. (heard faintly)
(sounds of thumps and clicks for about 30 seconds; whirring sound similar to electric seat motor operating; two faint thumps followed by louder thump; about 17 seconds later, two clicks and two thumps)

El Batouty: I rely on God. (one loud thump and three faint thumps)
El Batouty: I rely on God. I rely on God.
(four tones similar to Master Caution aural beeper) El Batouty: I rely on God. I rely on God. I rely on God. I rely on God. (sound of loud thump) El Batouty: I rely on God.

El Habashy: What’s happening? What’s happening?
El Batouty: I rely on God.
(sound of numerous thumps and clicks continue for approximately 15 seconds; repeating high-low tone similar to Master Warning aural starts and continues to the end of recording)
El Batouty: I rely on God.
El Habashy: What’s happening?
(unidentified voice): [unintelligible]
El Habashy: What’s happening, Gamil? What’s happening?
(four tones similar to Master Caution aural beeper)
El Habashy: What is this? What is this? Did you shut the engine[s]?
(one microphone detects a change and increase in sound)
El Habashy: Get away in the engines. Shut the engines.
El Batouty: It’s shut.
El Habashy: Pull. Pull with me. Pull with me. Pull with me.

According to investigators, the transcript ends here --- at 1:50 a.m. and 38 seconds EST --- as the aircraft starts to descend from cruise altitude. Apparently, electrical power to the recorder ended at that time.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

When the news reported that the plane went down due to a "power failure," Mr.B said:

"Yeah, and his name is Chirac!"

[SendShaqtoIraq]

Thanks, I don't remember that part, or maybe didn't even hear it.

[GeronL]

They ruled it out before they even found any wreckage

[GeronL]

This crash could very well be attributed to a mechanical failure, but without any contact from the pilots, how can this be determined so quickly?

It can't.

[JustPiper]

ONGOING TERROR INFORMATION/INVESTIGATIVE THREAD -7,000 posts and counting