Traces of explosives found on bodies of EgyptAir crash victims

Authorities say traces of explosives have been found on some bodies recovered from the EgyptAir plane that crashed last May.

The Airbus A320 plunged into the eastern Mediterranean en-route from Paris to Cairo on May 19th.

All 66 people on board were killed including 40 Egyptians and 15 French nationals.

Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement a criminal inquiry will now begin into Flight 804.

Investigators have established a fire broke out in or near the cockpit just before the jet came down between Crete and the coast of northern Egypt.

Egypt's aviation minister had said a terrorist attack was the most likely cause.

It happened seven months after a Russian airliner crashed in the Sinai Peninsula shortly after taking off from an Egyptian Red Sea resort.

The local affiliate of Islamic State said it had planted a bomb on board, and Russia later confirmed there had been an explosion.

There were no survivors among the plane's 226 passengers and crew.