ACARS flight data indicates ‘internal explosion’ on EgyptAir flight MS804

As Egypt deploys an underwater ROV in search of the missing EgyptAir Airbus A320 which crashed into the sea approximately 180 miles to the north of Alexandria, data sent from the stricken aircraft just minutes before it disappeared from radar reveals a “series of cascading faults” which have been interpreted as resulting from “an internal explosion” according to one pilot.
The data was received from transmissions made via the plane’s ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) which sends brief transmissions to ground-based receivers. According to another pilot who flies an Airbus A330, a similar plane to the A320, and who spoke under conditions of anonymity, “It looks like the right front and side windows were blown out, most probably from inside out.”
While investigators pour over all the data available to establish whether or not the plane was brought down by an act of terrorism, French authorities have confirmed that the smoke detectors on board the plane did go off a few minutes before it disappeared, but could not confirm the reason why. Until the aircraft’s black boxes are found, the ACARS data provides the best picture of what happened on board. There will be a period of only one month in which to find the black boxes before their location signals stop.
Three separate warnings indicated that there were problems with windows next to the co-pilot which could be interpreted as them having been blown outwards as a result of an explosion onboard. However, this is not to be interpreted that the explosion occurred in the cockpit but more a case that the right side of the plane was more damaged than the left. It was also pointed out by the pilot interviewed that the smoke detectors may have been triggered by fog which would have filled the cabin as it lost air pressure at 38,000 feet.
While floating debris is being collected and the tragic task of returning recovered body parts to Cairo for identification purposes has begun, French authorities have confirmed they will not be increasing airport security at Charles de Gaulle Airport. French detectives are, however, now examining a group of approximately 85,000 workers who have ‘red badge’ security clearance to restricted areas at the airport, though screening of staff tends to be limited to whether they have a criminal record or not, or if they are on any terrorist watch list.