Transcript of Last Moments of EgyptAir Flight 990

By
ABC News
January 6, 2006, 11:40 AM ET
2 min read

Aug. 10, 2000 -- Following is the English translation of the final two minutes and 43 seconds of EgyptAir Flight 990’s cockpit voice recorder.

Only the voices of the departure crew’s pilot, Ahmed Mahmoud El Habashy, and the relief crew’s co-pilot, Gamil El Batouty, are identified on this final portion of the tape.

El Batouty: Look, here’s the new first officer’s pen. Give it to him please. God spare you.(unidentified voice):Yeah. El Batouty: To make sure it doesn’t get lost. El Habashy: Excuse me, Jimmy, while I take a quick trip to the toilet …

(whirring sound similar to electric seat motor operating; sound of click; sound similar to cockpit door operating)El Batouty: Go ahead, please.

(sound of several clicks)El Habashy: … before it gets crowded. While they are eating, and I’ll get back to you.

(sound similar to cockpit door operating; sound of thunk; sound of clink)(unidentified voice): [three unintelligible syllables]

(sound of click and thump)El Batouty: I rely on God. (heard faintly)

(sounds of thumps and clicks for about 30 seconds; whirring sound similar to electric seat motor operating; two faint thumps followed by louder thump; about 17 seconds later, two clicks and two thumps)El Batouty: I rely on God.

(one loud thump and three faint thumps)El Batouty: I rely on God. I rely on God.

(four tones similar to Master Caution aural beeper)El Batouty: I rely on God. I rely on God. I rely on God. I rely on God.

(sound of loud thump)El Batouty: I rely on God.El Habashy: What’s happening? What’s happening? El Batouty: I rely on God.

(sound of numerous thumps and clicks continue for approximately 15 seconds; repeating high-low tone similar to Master Warning aural starts and continues to the end of recording)El Batouty: I rely on God. El Habashy: What’s happening? (unidentified voice): [unintelligible]El Habashy: What’s happening, Gamil? What’s happening?

(four tones similar to Master Caution aural beeper)El Habashy: What is this? What is this? Did you shut the engine[s]?

(one microphone detects a change and increase in sound)El Habashy: Get away in the engines. Shut the engines. El Batouty: It’s shut. El Habashy: Pull. Pull with me. Pull with me. Pull with me.

According to investigators, the transcript ends here — at 1:50 a.m. and 38 seconds EST — as the aircraft starts to descend from cruise altitude. Apparently, electrical power to the recorder ended at that time.