Workers service an EgyptAir flight at International Cairo Airport, Egypt October 30, 2016.
Workers service an EgyptAir flight at International Cairo Airport, Egypt October 30, 2016. Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

EgyptAir Flight 804 that crashed en route from Paris to Cairo had traces of explosives on the remains of victims, said civil aviation investigation committee of Egypt. This apparently suggests that the Egypt air crash was caused by a bomb.

EgyptAir Flight 804 crashed into one of the deepest parts of the Mediterranean Sea on May 9, killing 66 people on board. Civil aviation investigation committee of Egypt has recently revealed about the traces of explosives found on the Egypt flight. However, it remains uncertain as from where and how these explosives were smuggled on board.

Audio from the flight recorder had also mentioned about a fire on EgyptAir Flight 804 in its final moments. Furthermore, after the analysis of the flight data recorder, traces of smoke were found in the lavatory as well as avionics bay.

The Egyptian committee did not give further details about their findings. They have passed on their findings to the prosecutors investigating foul play. “The technical investigation committee places itself and its expertise at the disposal of prosecutors,” it said in a statement.

According to an Egyptian source, Egypt had found about the presence of explosive on EgyptAir Flight 804 a few months ago. It had informed about the same to French investigators, who in turn asked for more time to study the details. Hence, the announcement was delayed.

Furthermore, in September, Paris newspaper Le Figaro reported that the French investigators found traces of TNT explosive on the debris of EgyptAir Flight 804 but they were not allowed to examine it. However, Egyptian officials had denied of the claim then.

Two anonymous western sources expressed their reservations to Reuters about explosives. According to them, technical problem is most likely the cause of EgyptAir Flight 804 crash. One of the sources even said that the traces of explosives found recently resembled the samples held in stock previously. However, the aviation experts say that chances of mechanical fault in EgyptAir Flight 804 are minimal.