Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has confirmed that one Australian was among the 66 people on board EgyptAir’s A320, which disappeared en route from Paris to Cairo.
In a statement, she explained that an unnamed dual Australian-UK national was aboard Flight MS804 when it disappeared off the radar.
No further information was made available, however, Bishop said she was working closely with UK authorities to provide consular assistance to the man’s family.
“Out of respect for the man’s family, the Government will not provide more details at this stage.”
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop
EgyptAir flight missing with 66 on board, sea search finds nothing so far: https://t.co/1psg5qtFoh pic.twitter.com/0WABf8l0nN
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) May 19, 2016
Yesterday, officials confirmed Flight MS804 crashed somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea 40 minutes before it was scheduled to land at Cairo’s international airport.
Search is underway to find the wreckage, despite earlier reports that debris has been located.
Greek authorities, who are working closely with Egyptian investigation teams, say the last broadcast was made as the aircraft flew over the island of Kea – around seven miles from Cairo airspace.
The Airbus was seen serving 90 degrees to the left, spinning around 360 degrees to the right before dropping from 37,000 feet to 15,000.
A ground controller attempted to make contact with the pilot “but he was not responding”, according to the Head of Greece’s Civil Aviation Department, Kostas Litzerakis.
“Shortly after exiting Greek airspace, it disappeared from radars.”
Kostas Litzerakis, Greece Civil Aviation Department Chief
The aircraft was travelling with 56 passengers and 10 crew, including 30 Egyptian nationals and 15 French.
The cause of the crash is still unknown.
