EgyptAir crash bodies recovered

Monday 04 July 2016

A search vessel looking for the remains of victims of the EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean in May, including Jersey resident Richard Osman, has recovered most of the mapped bodies from the sea floor, investigators say.

The Mauritian-based ship John Lethbridge is now sailing to Alexandria in Egypt and will later return to the crash site to look for more bodies.

The flight from Paris to Cairo crashed on May 19, killing all 66 on board and the cause of the crash remains unknown.

A statement by the Egyptian Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee said that the search vessel John Lethbridge "retrieved all the human remains that were mapped at the crash location.” 

Richard Osman, 40, who died in the crash, was born and raised in Carmarthen, Wales, and moved to Jersey to work for mining company, Centamin, based on Mulcaster Street.

Father-of-two Mr Osman was described by his younger brother Alastair as a workaholic who, "...never deviated from the straight path.”

Asked in May about why Mr Osman was on the flight, his brother said: "He would have been going to work I assume. I know he works in both Egypt and another country in Africa. 

"I guess it was work related. He's been doing this for years in the gold mining industry. This was a regular trip. He used to do it at least once a month, year after year.”

Mr Osman’s father moved to Wales from his native Egypt to work as a consultant in ear, nose and throat surgery in Singleton Hospital, Swansea.

Mr Osman was a qualified geologist and worked for exploration and research companies which involved him travelling widely around the world. He held a Master's degree in Mining Geology from the Camborne School of Mines and had over 16 years' experience in the mining industry, having worked in exploration, open pit mining and the evaluation of mineral properties. 

Mr Osman previously worked in Egypt for over 12 years in exploration, resource development and as open pit mine manager. Prior to that he was employed for five years at the Big Bell operation in Western Australia owned by Harmony Gold.