ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT LEARNS WITH SHOCK AND SADNESS OF CRASH OF EGYPTAIR FLIGHT 990
Press Release
GA/SM/120
ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT LEARNS WITH SHOCK AND SADNESS OF CRASH OF EGYPTAIR FLIGHT 990
19991101Following is the text of a statement issued today by General Assembly President Theo-Ben Gurirab (Namibia):
It was with utter shock and deep sadness that I learned yesterday of the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990, which was lost in international waters during the early hours of Sunday, 31 October, off the coast of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts.
The plane, a Boeing 767-300 bound for Cairo, disappeared from radar screens 55 minutes after taking off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. There were 217 people on board. Aviation authorities and news reports indicate that the passenger list included 62 Egyptians, 3 Syrians, 2 Sudanese, 1 Chilean and 131 others, many believed to be Americans.
I wish to join other world leaders and sympathizers everywhere in expressing deep sorrow and profound sympathy over this terrible tragedy, and offer condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and friends of all those on board whose lives ended so tragically.
I would also like to commend the ongoing joint search and rescue operation by the officials of the Governments of the United States and Egypt, to establish the cause of the plane crash and identify the victims.
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