'Smoke detected inside plane cabin before crash' - Report

Dimeji Akinloye 23:04 - 20 May 2016

EgyptAir(This photo is for illustrative purposes).

However, a U.S. official characterized the report as an unconfirmed rumor.

Flight data suggested there were smoke alerts aboard EgyptAir Flight 804 minutes before it crashed in the Mediterranean Sea early on Thursday, May 19, CNN reported on Friday.

CNN said it obtained the data through a screen grab from an Egyptian source, and said the data came from an automatic system aboard the plane called the Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS).

READ: Egyptians found body part, seat in jet search

ACARS routinely downloads flight data to the airline operating the aircraft

The plane was carrying 56 passengers and 10 crew.

It was said to have been travelling at an altitude of 37,000 feet (11,280 metres), then disappeared about 80 miles (130 km) before it was due to enter Egyptian airspace.