EgyptAir Plane Crashes in Tunis, at Least 15 Dead

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EgyptAir Plane Crashes in Tunis, at Least 15 Dead

TUNIS, Tunisia (Reuters) - An EgyptAir plane with 55 passengers and crew on board crashed Tuesday as it was attempting to land at Tunis airport and at least 15 people were confirmed dead, airport and government officials said.

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15 dead as jet crashes in Tunis

The pilot survived but the co-pilot and the rest of the crew died, the Egyptian ambassador in Tunis, Mahdi Fattallah said.

The aircraft is resting on a hill in the area of a park about six kilometres (four miles) from the airport, and black smoke was seen rising from the site, The Associated Press reported.

Fifty-five passengers and eight crew were aboard the aircraft, which was on a flight from Cairo to Tunis when it came down in Nahli, in the northern part of the capital.

This is EgyptAir's 4th crash in 10 years. A 707-366C in 1996, a 767-366ER in 1999, a 767-366ER in 2000, and now this 737-566 in 2002.

EgyptAir is celebrating their 70 year anniversary this month.