EgyptAir flight MS804: Satellite spots oil slick in the sea that could be from plane

A handout satellite image provided by the European Space Agency (ESA) on May 20 shows a slick in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the same area that EgyptAir flight MS804 disappeared early morning of May 19.
PHOTO: EPA

BERLIN (Reuters) - A European satellite spotted a potential oil slick in the area of the eastern Mediterranean Sea where an EgyptAir jet disappeared with 66 people on board, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Friday (May 20).

The image, taken by satellite Sentinel-1A at 1600 GMT on Thursday, shows a slick about 2km long, roughly 40km south-east of the aircraft's last-known location.

A second image taken at 4am GMT on Friday showed that the slick had drifted by about 5km.

The ESA said it had passed on information related to the image to the relevant authorities but said there was no guarantee that the slick was from the EgyptAir plane. It said another satellite, Sentinel-2A, would pass over the same area on May 22.

The Egyptian navy said earlier on Friday it had found the personal belongings of passengers and other debris floating in the Mediterranean, confirmation that the EgyptAir jet had plunged into the sea.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.