Marisa Garcia We are saddened by news confirmed by Egypt Air that flight MS804 disappeared from radar this morning at 2:30 am over the Mediterranean, the airline has confirmed.
Our last recorded point of contact with #MS804 is 33.6757, 28.7924 at 36,975 feet.https://t.co/6tH4GQzOWU pic.twitter.com/y14vnYgOth
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) May 19, 2016
It is reported that the Paris to Cair`o flight was approximately 10 miles from Egyptian airspace when it disappeared.
The airline reports the nationalities of those onboard the A320 aircraft as 15 French, 30 Egyptian, one British, one Belgian, two Iraqis, one Kuwaiti and one Saudi passenger.
Egypt Air has been in touch with families and is making arrangements for their transport and housing near Cairo Airport, as well as coordinating emergency response teams including crisis counselors.
#EgyptAir in touch with all authorities, rescue efforts underway #MS804 pic.twitter.com/5deDeVtyIX https://t.co/BA0vr0tnhT
— RT (@RT_com) May 19, 2016
Greece joins search operation for missing #EgyptAir Flight MS804; France to join investigation: reports https://t.co/NsdCWEM4MG
— Intl. Business Times (@IBTimes) May 19, 2016
Update – Egyptian media reports last contact was made with #EgyptAir plane 10 minutes before it went missing and no distress call was made
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) May 19, 2016
Official Statement from @Airbus on #EgyptAir #MS804 pic.twitter.com/yKMJrXR5Ld
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
French President on #EgyptAir: "Information confirms, alas, that this plane has crashed"https://t.co/GhpGsEfiLL https://t.co/8JJBRABSxR
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 19, 2016
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of all the passengers and crew at this difficult time @EGYPTAIR #MS804
— IATA (@IATA) May 19, 2016
Throughout the day on Thursday, a now sadly commonplace furore of misinformation sharing took place which only led to confusion.
#EgyptAir official source S&R of the armed forces received distress signal from "plane's emergency devices">> https://t.co/MHg2BVdxvQ
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
>>(prev) ELT signals on emergency rafts/slides automatically activate on impact/contact w/water and would facilitate finding #MS804
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter) signal is *not* call from cockpit by crew. More on ELT from NOAA https://t.co/E7GqVuGv2A #EgyptAir
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
BALPA responds to #MS804 media frenzy. #airlines #airsafety #avgeeks https://t.co/RjEWHPjVU9
— Grant Brophy (@airsafetyman) May 19, 2016
Everybody take a deep breath and admit we simply don't know what happened yet // Missing Egyptair flight MS804 https://t.co/ps4axn2ZmT
— Stephen Trimble (@FG_STrim) May 19, 2016
EgyptAir pleaded with the media to take responsible actions when reporting.
Things an airline should NOT have its comms team forced to address during a crisis: #EgyptAir pic.twitter.com/nITB4JFZCr
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
With reference to the information aired by several TV channels about finding wreckage of the missing Egyptian aircraft /1
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 19, 2016
EGYPTAIR has contacted the concerned authorities which did not confirm this information. /2
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 19, 2016
Later, perhaps pressured by the demand for information quickly, shared information it had received on debris located which later proved to be false.
#EgyptAir’s wreckage update, now proven wrong, was from Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Undue pressure on A/L to share any info, IMO.
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
My 2 cents on #EgyptAir reversal on wreckage: A/L tried to act responsibly, waiting for official info, keeping families informed first. >>
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
One of the most valuable shares of the day, in terms of media and public handling of these events on Social Media, was published by BuzzFeed.
Think "how the families of the victims must feel when they read the torrent of half-assed theories" https://t.co/JPr2hKA3DR via @broderick
— FlightChic | ✈️???? (@designerjet) May 19, 2016
The BuzzFeed article makes a very important point: The public’s desire to know more about a tragic event in aviation comes second to the airline’s responsibility to the families and loved ones of those affected by the tragedy.
The line of communication must be for the airline to verify facts and collaborate with authorities, update the loved ones of victims and provide necessary support, then inform the public at large. In that order.
EgyptAir did what it was supposed to do.
The airline’s updated information on Friday morning confirming that Egyptian Armed forces have found the first debris of MS804.
The Egyptian Armed Forces have informed EGYPTAIR that they have found first debris from the missing aircraft operating flight MS804 #MS804
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 20, 2016
295 KM from the Egyptian coastline. MS804 lost contact with radar above the Mediterranean Sea about 295 KM from the Egyptian sea coast.
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 20, 2016
at 02:30 am CLT on 19 May. It was due to arrive Cairo Airport at 03:15 am CLT.
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 20, 2016
The search in the area continues and further updates will be issued on https://t.co/FIhPtJm9qR and in our social media channels.
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 20, 2016
EGYPTAIR sincerely conveys its deepest sorrow to the families and friends of the passengers onboard Flight MS804. #MS804 #Egyptair
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 20, 2016
We extend our deepest sympathies to those affected. #MS804
— EGYPTAIR (@EGYPTAIR) May 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/egyptair/status/733597735392141313
