Conflicting information on EgyptAir flight criticized

Ismaeel Naar Conflicting reports of the missing EgyptAir Flight MS804 over the Mediterranean Sea has shrouded coverage of the crisis situation with EgyptAir and Egyptian authorities contradicting each at one point on Thursday. Using one of its spokesman’s Facebook page, the Egyptian army denied it detected any "distress messages" from an EgyptAir flight. Only hours earlier, EgyptAir had said it was informed by the military that it detected a "distress calls" from the Airbus A320. That tweet was eventually deleted. In his briefing to reporters Egypt’s Minister of Aviation Sherif Fathy admitted that authorities mistakenly reported that a signal was received two hours after air traffic control lost contact with MS804. He said: “There was a mistake made by an official somewhere. He talked about a signal and then a few minutes after he came back and apologized, and he came back and said ‘sorry there was no signal’. After his first statement we all went to the press and said the signal was received, thereafter we denied that and we admit there was a mistake that happened.” While EgyptAir was applauded by some online users for its quick response on its website and Twitter account, some said the airline was taking a tone with the media by issuing several warnings. “EgyptAir Crisis Center follows up the situation and urges the media resources to abide by the official news issued and sent by the company,” it tweeted. “EgyptAir calls for media resources to be assured of the information they post or release.” After most news outlets had issued statements referring to the Egyptian army and EgyptAir, the airliner added more confusion when it tweeted that it was “denying all misleading information published by news websites and social media channels regarding the reasons of the disappearance of EgyptAir flight MS804 and the company confirms that the reason of disappearance hasn't been yet confirmed.” — Al Arabiya