The family of Richard Osman, a 40-year-old British man who tragically lost his life in the EgyptAir plane crash over the Mediterranean in 2016, is finally on the brink of receiving answers about his death after nine long years of uncertainty. Richard Osman, a geologist from Carmarthen, was among the 66 passengers who perished when a fire erupted on board the EgyptAir flight. The incident occurred just two weeks after the birth of his second child with his wife, Aurelie. His family has been in limbo as the exact cause of the crash has never been publicly determined.
For years, the inquest into Richard Osman’s death was at a standstill due to conflicting conclusions reached by French and Egyptian authorities regarding the circumstances of the crash. Various theories were floated, including the possibility of terrorism, a malfunction with an overheating iPhone, and even the co-pilot smoking a cigarette in the cockpit. However, a breakthrough has been made as independent aviation experts have now submitted their report, paving the way for a final hearing scheduled for May this year.
Coroner Mark Layton expressed relief that the inquest is finally progressing towards a conclusion, with plans for Mr. Osman’s wife Aurelie to provide a victim impact statement at the upcoming hearing. The aim is to avoid an inconclusive ruling, with hopes high that the evidence presented will shed light on the tragic events of that fateful day in May 2016. The crash of Flight 804, which claimed the lives of 66 individuals, remains shrouded in mystery as no distress call was received before the aircraft went down.
Both French and Egyptian investigators have put forth differing accounts of the crash, with Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority attributing the disaster to an explosion in the galley area, leading to systemic failures. In contrast, French authorities pointed to a possible fault in the oxygen masks following a cockpit fire. The diverging conclusions have only added to the complexity of uncovering the truth behind the tragedy, leaving families of the victims grappling with unanswered questions and unresolved grief.
Richard Osman’s background, from attending Queen Elizabeth Cambria school in Carmarthen to pursuing higher education at Kingston University and Camborn School of Mining in Cornwall, paints a picture of a man with a promising future tragically cut short. His father, Dr. Mohamed Fekry Ali Osman, an esteemed ear, nose, and throat consultant, also faced untimely passing in 2013, further compounding the family’s sorrow.
As the Osman family awaits the upcoming inquest proceedings, scheduled in Haverfordwest, there is a glimmer of hope that the long-awaited answers surrounding Richard’s untimely death will finally come to light. The journey towards closure has been arduous, but the prospect of a resolution brings a sense of solace to those left grappling with the aftermath of the EgyptAir plane crash.
The upcoming hearing in May will mark a significant milestone in the quest for truth and justice for Richard Osman and the other victims of the tragic aviation disaster. The revelations that emerge from the proceedings could provide a semblance of closure to the grieving families and bring long-overdue answers to the forefront, shedding light on a dark chapter in aviation history.