Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry confirmed this afternoon that crews have found human remains in the search for the missing Airbus A320.
The parts, discovered in the Mediterranean sea, were found alongside ‘passengers’ belongings’ and plane seats, the ministry said in a statement.
The search area for the plane - which is believed to have plummeted tens of thousands of feet into the ocean - is currently 40 miles, officials said.
However, this will be expanded as necessary.
The cause of the crash remains unknown, but Egypt says the possibility of a terror attack is 'stronger' than that of a technical failure.
Stay with us for the latest news on the tragedy.
KEY EVENTS SO FAR
Did MS804 crash after cockpit struggle?
EgyptAir Flight MS804 is believed to have swerved left, and then right, before plummeting tens of thousands of feet into the ocean.
This sudden lurching suggests that some kind of struggle took place inside the aircraft’s cockpit, claims an aviation security expert.
Philip Baum, editor of Aviation Security International, said the pilots could have been desperately trying to control a plane disabled by an explosion.
This scenario occurred in 1976 when two bombs exploded on a Cuban passenger flight after take-off from Barbados.
In that case, the pilot tried to steer the aircraft away from a beach.
Alternatively, the pilots may have been struggling with someone trying to take control of the plane.
“It could have been a fight in the flight deck between crew members, one suicidal and one not. Or a hijacker trying to gain access,” said Mr Baum.
In 2000, British Airways Flight 2069 from London to Nairobi nosedived and dropped 10,000ft after a deranged passenger burst into the cockpit and grabbed the flight controls. He was overpowered and the flight crew stabilised the plane.
The Egyptian military said no distress call was received from the pilot in the EgyptAir crash. If there was a struggle over the flight controls, that would be understandable, Mr Baum told the Press Association.
“The last thing you are thinking about when you are struggling is to send out a distress signal. The first thing you think about is trying to regain control of the aircraft,” he added.
Many fliers were taking to social media today to defend EgyptAir after yesterday’s horror crash.
Writing on Facebook and Twitter, the passengers vowed to continue using the disaster-hit airline, describing it as ‘one of the best’ in the world.
One user, Hisham Samy El Essawy, from Cairo, Egypt, wrote: “As a person who frequently travels a lot, i still find #EgyptAir one of the best #airlines worldwide. I support #EgyptAir and will always #fly_EgyptAir #prayforegyptair #pray forms804.”
Another user, Koert Debeuf, added: “Just booked an EgyptAir flight from Cairo to Brussels & back for next week. Both Egyptair and Brussels Airport need our support now.”
@EgyptAir will keep being my favorite airline. Too much support.#PrayForEgyptAir #EgyptAir #EgyptAirMS804 pic.twitter.com/h7HUXG9JFH— M. Nabil ن (@Mohamed_Nabil96) May 20, 2016
Just booked an Egyptair flight from Cairo to Brussels & back for next week. Both Egyptair and Brussels Airport need our support now.— Koert Debeuf (@koertdebeuf) May 20, 2016
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