Authorities indicate a technical breakdown as cause
Reason for the crash is presumably a technical breakdown. The airplane had a "problem" shortly after the start, said deputy French Minister of Transportion Dominique Bussereau in Paris. In the attempt to return to the airport at Scharm el Scheich the plane crashed into the Red Sea. The Egyptian authorities also spoke of a technical problem. French radio reported, referencing the Egyptian aviation agency, there hadn't been any explosion on board.
"Die Welt"....Ägyptische Boeing ins Rote Meer gestürzt - 148 Menschen tot
Translated by longjack