DHAKA: Pilots of the EgyptAir jet that crashed in the Mediterranean Sea in May battled to extinguish a fire, the cockpit voice recorder reportedly shows.

The data, revealed by sources close to the investigation but not yet made public, backs up evidence from the flight recorder of smoke in the cabin.

Recovered wreckage also showed signs of high temperature damage and soot on the jet’s front section.

All 66 on board died when flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo crashed on May 19.

Both of the so-called “black box” recorders reinforce the automated electronic messages sent out by the plane that had shown smoke detectors going off in a toilet and in the avionics area below the cockpit, minutes before the plane disappeared.

No distress call was made from the plane prior to the crash.

Egyptian investigators have not ruled out any reasons for the crash, including terrorism, particularly as such catastrophic fires on passenger planes are so rare.

The data recorders had been taken to Paris after being found, and the cockpit voice recorder was in need of considerable repair.

Investigators are still analyzing the voice exchanges and no official statement has yet been made on the contents.

BDST: 1030 HRS, JULY 6, 2016
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