Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CAIRO1325
2007-05-06 15:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Cairo
Cable title:
MFO TWIN OTTER CRASHES, KILLING ALL NINE ON BOARD
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHEG #1325 1261509 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 061509Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5046 INFO RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0118 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1249 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 1479 RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 1441 RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM PRIORITY 0802 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS CAIRO 001325
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KMFO EG
SUBJECT: MFO TWIN OTTER CRASHES, KILLING ALL NINE ON BOARD
The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) Cairo
Representative reported that the MFO's French-operated Twin
Otter aircraft crashed at approximately 10:00 a.m. local on
May 6, killing all nine people (eight French and one
Canadian) on board. The representative said the MFO lost
contact with the plane at approximately 09:30 a.m. and
believe that mechanical difficulties prompted the pilot to
attempt an emergency landing on a highway approximately 40
kilometers north-west of the beach resort of Taba. According
to press reports, eye-witnesses said the plane's wing hit a
tanker truck when it landed on the highway, causing the plane
to catch fire. An investigation is ongoing. Post has
extended offers of support to MFO and the French and Canadian
Embassies and is in contact with MFO Headquarters in Rome.
RICCIARDONE