Gameel Al-Batouti
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Gameel Al-Batouti was a pilot for EgyptAir, his home country's national airline. The former Egyptian Air Force officer was 59 years old when he and 216 other people were killed when Flight 990 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 60 miles SE of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts.
Batouti was the pilot the NTSB suspected of deliberately crashing Flight 990 into the ocean, a claim disputed by Egyptian officials. Some investigators learned that he was supposedly reprimanded for inappropriate behavior with female guests at a New York City hotel often used by EgyptAir crews. An EgyptAir official said to be responsible for the alleged reprimand was a passenger on Flight 990.
There were some suggestions that Batouti may have been a terrorist, but family and friends revealed that his life was comfortable and that he had no strong political beliefs. In fact, his family showed reporters videos of parties at his home as proof that he was not a terrorist.
Batouti liked to read comic books and play squash. His family's favorite animated cartoon character was Donald Duck.
External links
- Suicide Speculation Under Fire (http://www.cairotimes.com/news/batouti.html)
- Batouti Family Defends Co-pilot (http://www.cairotimes.com/news/batfam.html)