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Attempt to retrieve EgyptAir 'black boxes' resumesNovember 6, 1999
NEWPORT, Rhode Island (CNN) -- Seas calmed enough Saturday for crash investigators to try again to recover EgyptAir Flight 990's "black boxes." The boxes may hold vital clues about the cause of the Boeing 767's catastrophic dive into the ocean off the coast of Massachusetts. Meanwhile on shore, family members of the crash victims saw their first glimpse of pieces of the plane's recovered wreckage at a former military base. A weather buoy near the crash site off the coast of Nantucket, Massachusetts, measured waves at 6.9 feet with wind gusts up to 21.4 knots around midday Saturday. Bad weather and high seas of 10 feet (3 meters) had earlier suspended retrieval efforts. Investigators said they would work the remote-controlled drone through the night, as long as weather allowed. But winds and waves were predicted to strengthen by Sunday.
The contents of the two black boxes -- the cockpit voice and flight data recorders -- could explain why Flight 990, heading from New York to Cairo last Sunday, plummeted into the ocean at near-supersonic speed from a height of 33,000 feet (9,900 meters) early last Sunday, killing all 217 people on board. "The real focus of the investigation...is to get those recorders," said James Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Deep Drone to retrieve flight recordersEarly Friday, an unmanned remote- controlled underwater robot called the Deep Drone was dropped from the Navy salvage and recovery ship, USS Grapple. It picked up loud pinging sounds from both the recorders. Investigators said the robot located the recorders in about 270 feet (81 meters) of water. The robot, which is equipped with still and video cameras, also gave investigators a glimpse of the wreckage, although they couldn't see the recorders. "They're right on the pingers, but they have yet to see the recorders," Hall said Saturday. Deep Drone also has a mechanical claw that can retrieve objects from the ocean floor. "We'll continue with the Deep Drone until we recover the boxes," said Navy Capt. Bert Marsh, who was coordinating the search. "I doubt very seriously that I will use the divers for recovery." But the boxes may be entangled in the wreckage or buried under other debris. "We're going to have to dig to find them," Marsh said. Relatives gather for memorial serviceAn EgyptAir official said relatives of crash victims continued to arrive in Newport, Rhode Island, where they are staying at a Doubletree Hotel. An interfaith memorial service is scheduled for Sunday. "Currently, 340 people representing 135 of our loved passengers have been brought to Newport," said Samir el- Shanawany, EgyptAir's general manager for North America. He said the airline, which has been providing air travel for relatives, said more family members are still arriving. "Our assistance representatives have received more than 20,000 calls," Shanawany said. He said the airline would continue to provide counseling services after the families returned to their homes. The NTSB said that a Web site will be set up to help family members follow the investigation. Only one body from Flight 990 has been found. Medical examiners may have to rely on DNA matches with relatives to identify the crash victims. Rhode Island Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse plans to file a court petition Monday to issue "certificates of presumption of death" for the passengers and crew members. The certificates would allow relatives to execute wills, collect life insurance benefits and pursue legal claims without waiting until remains are identified.
On Friday, the Muslim Sabbath, about 150 mourners attended a Muslim funeral service in a makeshift mosque set up at a Newport hotel. At mosques throughout Egypt on Friday, clergy hailed the 217 victims as martyrs who went to heaven. Islamic scholars say those who die by drowning are considered martyrs. Separate prayers were held at the Armed Forces Mosque in Cairo for the 33 military officers on board, most of them returning from training in the United States. Another sermon was given at Cairo International Airport for the flight's 18 crew members. A larger service for victims of all faiths is planned for Sunday. RELATED STORIES: Digging for EgyptAir 990 'black boxes' to resume in morning RELATED SITES: EgyptAir
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