Rhode Island

How a Newport cemetery became the final resting place for some EgyptAir crash victims

Published

6 months ago

June 28, 2025

Press Room

How a Newport cemetery became the final resting place for some EgyptAir crash victims

EgyptAir Flight 990 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Oct. 31, 1999, killing all 217 people on board.
Newport, Rhode Island, served as the U.S. incident command center due to its proximity and resources.
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded the crash was likely caused by the relief pilot’s actions.

On Oct. 31, 1999, a flight from Los Angeles made a scheduled stopover at JFK International Airport, taking off from the runway to continue its journey to Cairo, Egypt, at 1:20 a.m. Just half an hour later, though, and minutes after the plane reached its cruising altitude, the commercial aircraft plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean, 60 miles south of Nantucket, killing all 217 people on board.

EgyptAir Flight 990 was the deadliest aviation disaster in the history of EgyptAir and the second-deadliest aviation disaster involving a Boeing 767. However, though the flight originated in Los Angeles, took off from New York and was headed to Egypt, the remains of six unidentified passengers were interred at Newport’s own Island Cemetery and the official memorial sits at Brenton Point State Park, overlooking the very body of water where those passengers perished.

The reason behind the location of the memorial is remarkably simple. A short written account from Island Cemetery’s records, obtained by The Newport Daily News through Records Manager Zachary Russell, indicated that Newport had been used as the U.S. incident command center in the immediate aftermath because it was the closest city large enough to accommodate the investigators and families of the victims. A heartbreaking report from The Standard Times in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on the unlikelihood that the investigation would recover intact remains also indicated Newport was the coordination center for search efforts and the families housed in a Newport hotel.

A New York Times report published at the time states that wreckage from the crash, as well as the bodies of victims, were brought to Naval Base Newport for investigation and identification, though the 2002 Aircraft Accident Brief from the National Transportation Safety Board makes no mention of the city, instead stating that containers of the wreckage were initially stored in a former Naval air hangar at Quonset Point.

Still, Newport served at least as the gathering site for those in mourning. An interdenominational memorial service was held at Brenton Point State Park that November, alongside members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Transportation Safety Board and several public officials.

The granite memorial would be erected a year later, rough-hewn on three of its four sides to represent the mourners’ pain, according to an article on the memorial by AP reporter David Rising, also stored in Island Cemetery’s records. The inscription reads, “They are not gone from us,” in French, Arabic and English.

The incident itself was under investigation for two years by the National Transportation Safety Board, which determined the probable cause of the incident lay in the actions of the relief pilot, First Officer Gameel Al-Batouti, who was left in charge of the cockpit while Captain Ahmed El-Habashi went to the bathroom. It concluded that Al-Batouti, a former Egyptian Air Force major and chief flight instructor, manually disengaged the plane’s autopilot during this time, causing it to begin a nosedive. Though El-Habashi had returned and attempted to recover the plane, the NTSB’s investigation into the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Recorder indicated that Al-Batouti did nothing to help the situation, only calmly repeating a phrase in Arabic that translates to “I rely on God.” When El-Habashi managed to pull the plane’s nose up, the report states that Al-Batouti was putting in opposite inputs to turn the plane’s nose down again.

Though initially deferring responsibility of the investigation to the NTSB, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority disputed the NTSB report’s conclusion as the result of a “flawed and biased” investigation. It launched a separate investigation in the following weeks, which argued that the probable cause for the incident was not Al-Batouti’s actions, but instead a mechanical failure.

In a later interview with former NTSB Director of Aviation Safety Bernard Loeb, conducted by the Canadian TV series “Mayday,” Loeb said none of the mechanical failure scenarios presented by the Egyptian investigation matched the flight profile and that the evidence showing the plane had been intentionally flown into the ocean was irrefutable “to anyone who knows anything about investigating airplane accidents.”

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Rhode Island

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

Published

25 minutes ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

A Rhode Island school superintendent has resigned amid an investigation into alleged antisemitic hazing in the district, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.

Smithfield Superintendent Dr. Dawn Bartz announced her resignation in a letter addressed to the school community. Bartz has been on leave since November after a report of hazing at Smithfield High School.

The Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island said five high school football players locked a freshman student in a bathroom, sprayed Lysol at the student and yelled antisemitic slurs.

In her resignation letter, Bartz focused on her successes surrounding academic outcomes, special education and STEM opportunities and other positives for the district, and thanked the community.

“As Smithfield moves forward, I am confident the district will continue to build on this progress
and momentum. I wish all our students, staff, and families continued success in the years ahead,” she wrote.

The letter did not specify a reason for the resignation.

WJAR-TV first reported on the situation on October, when the Bartz released a statement on its investigation.

“The investigation confirmed inappropriate conduct among a small number of students,” Superintendent Dawn Bartz said in a provided statement. “Disciplinary action has been taken in accordance with district policy, and several student-athletes will not participate for the remainder of the season.”

The statement went on to say that there would be mandated training and education in response. However, the involved players were back at practice, which didn’t sit well with the victim’s family. His parents said his son walked into practice and found himself face-to-face with his alleged assailants.

Five football players were initially removed from the team for the remainder of the season but were later reinstated. When asked about the reversal in October, Bartz issued a one-sentence statement saying, “The disciplinary process has concluded and we will not be discussing details involving students.”

Smithfield Town Council President John Tassoni said the situation has deeply divided the community.

“It’s a long time coming,” Tassoni said of Bartz’s resignation. “A lot of people are angry about what happened. A lot of people don’t know the truth of what happened, nor do I.”

An investigation is underway by the school committee’s attorney and a report is expected to be delivered to the school committee sometime next year, Tassoni added. However, some people have concerns about transparency and have floated the possibility of hiring an independent investigator.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island said they want the focus to be on student safety.

“While we can’t speculate on the specific reasons behind the superintendent’s decision to resign, we remain focused on what matters most: that Smithfield schools become a place where Jewish students and all students feel safe, valued, and protected from bias and harassment,” President and CEO Adam Greenman wrote in an email.

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Rhode Island

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Published

13 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Prosecutors in Rhode Island dropped a fugitive from justice charge against a former Catholic school athletic director.

John Sung was arrested in East Providence last month. He was wanted in Florida for a non-violent felony.

After his arrest, he was fired from his position at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Riverside.

Broward County court records show Sung was taken into custody last week. He posted bond.

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Rhode Island

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Girls wrestling took off last winter in its second year of state championships.

Exactly 50 participants, across a dozen weight classes, competed in the March extravaganza at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. Each weight class was contested, unlike the first year of the tournaments, and new title winners were crowned.

Pilgrim’s Allison Patten was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for her win at 107. The Patriots’ star also finished runner-up at the New England Championships and is among this year’s returnees. But who else should we be keeping an eye on this winter?

Here are 10 standouts who we think might shine this year.

Enjoy!

Athletes listed in alphabetical order.

Yasmin Bido, Hope

Senior

Bido snagged her first individual crown with a 16-0 decision at 152 pounds. The Blue Wave grappler also finished runner-up at 165 in Year 1 of the tournament.

Irie Byers, North Kingstown

Sophomore

Byers stormed onto the scene with a title in her first year on the mat. She captured the 120-pound championship with an 11-1 win in the finals. The Skipper returnee is one of a few wrestlers who could repeat.

Jolene Cole, Scituate

Sophomore

Cole helped Scituate to the team title in the first year that the award was handed out. Scituate is a bit of a girls wrestling factory, and Cole added to that lineage with her pin at 114 pounds.

Alei Fautua, North Providence

Sophomore

Fautua breezed to the title at 235 pounds with a pin in just 25 seconds. She led the Cougars to a runner-up finish as a team as Scituate edged the Cougars by just seven points. Fautua then finished fourth at the New England championships.

Kamie Hawkins, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

This year is all about redemption for Hawkins. She was one of the first state champions and came back last year looking to defend her 120-pound title. It wasn’t meant to be, but make no mistake, Hawkins is one of the state’s best.

Abigail Otte, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

Otte was a repeat champion at 138 pounds as she seized the title with a pin in 24 seconds. It’s likely a safe bet that Otte might capture her third crown in three years.

Allison Patten, Pilgrim

Junior

A repeat season isn’t out of the question for Patten. She won the 107 pound title with a pin in 49 seconds. What’s next for the junior? End the season with a New England title, too.

Chloe Ross, Scituate

Sophomore

It was quite the debut for Ross. The state crown was a breeze as the freshman won via pin in 1:16. But then came the New England tournament where the Spartan star snagged second place. Might there be a different ending to her season this year?

Meili Shao, La Salle

Senior

Shao was one of the first wrestling champions when she captured the 132 title two seasons ago. A repeat crown wasn’t in the cards as she finished runner-up in the class. But the Ram has returned and could be out to avenge last year’s finish.