EgyptAir MS804 was forced to turn around and make emergency landings at least three times in the 24 hours before it crashed into the Mediterranean Sea, according to French media.
French television channel France 3 said ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) messages signalled anomalies on board shortly after takeoff from three of the airports the plane visited in the day before it disappeared from radar screens.
It is not known what the calls were about, but each alert led to a ‘technical audit’ on the ground before the Airbus was allowed to take off again.
The aircraft had made six rotations between Asmara, in Eritrea, Cairo, Tunis and Paris.
According to the Telegraph, the claims were dismissed by EgyptAir chairman Safwat Musallam, who spoke to reporters on the sidelines of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) annual meeting in Dublin this week.
The Airbus 320 was flying from Paris to Cairo when it disappeared with 66 people on board.
The incident led to fears of a terror attack, although no group has claimed responsibility.
Earlier this week, a French search ship said it had picked up signals from one of the flight’s black boxes.
