All Aboard Feared Dead

Search crews plow the waters off the Egyptian coast, hoping against hope they'll find survivors from an Air Flash 737-300 that went down shortly after take-off Saturday. But there is little cause for hope that any of the 148 people -- mostly French tourists -- on board have survived.

Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry was quick to say the crash appeared to have been an accident, that there were no indications terrorism was involved. The French Deputy Transport Minister, Dominique Bussereau, said the pilot of FSH604 radioed shortly after take-off from Sharm el-Sheik that he had detected problems with the aircraft. There was little indication beyond that of the nature of the problems. The pilot reportedly tried to turn back for the airport, but didn't make it.

"Up until now, the cause is a technical one," Minister of Civil Aviation Ahmed Shafeeq told state-run Egyptian television. "There was a malfunction that made it difficult for the crew to ... save the plane."

Air Flash, a company which has been operating for some six years now, said the 737-300 (pictured in file photo, below) was one of two aircraft in its livery. The airline said wreckage from the flight was concentrated about nine miles from the airport. Egyptian aircraft, boats and divers converged on the wreckage shortly after the aircraft went down, but there were no indications of survivors.

The weather was reportedly clear and calm when the Air Flash plane took off at around 5:00 am local time.

The aircraft flew to Sharm el-Sheik from Milan, Italy. At first glance, officials said its maintenance record looked clean -- it's last service was conducted in Norway where it was given a clean bill of health. Teams from Egypt's flag carrier, Egyptair, are on scene, helping sift through the debris and looking for clues as to what trouble the flight experienced before it went down.

FMI: www.flashtour.com/airline.htm