TOM JEROME ROMA
Applied Astronomical / Astrological  
Consulting, Publishing, Lecturing, Teaching

EgyptAir Crash

October 31, 1999

EgyptAir flight 990 was late getting into New York from the West Coast. It took off for Cairo at 1.24 am EDT several hours late, but was only in the air for less than thirty minutes before it crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, some sixty miles south of Nantucket.

The power of astrology lies in its power to predict, but "conventional" astrological techniques which are predicated on viewing the universe two dimensionally, (as if the planets rotate about the Sun on a pie plate) don't really make a strong case for accidents at all in fight 990's takeoff. However, you'll see that if modern techniques which treat the Universe three dimensionally are implemented, a strong case can be made for a problem with the reverse thrusters, sloppy inspection and repairs, or sabotage.  

Consider what one gets when first evaluating the takeoff chart traditionally. The chart looks like a relatively safe one for a journey. Both benefics are active with the angles (Jupiter trines the ascendant and Venus trines the MC). Mars, an indicator of accidents, appears to well aspected (Mars trines Saturn), and Uranus, another indicator of the propensity for accidents, is in square with Saturn, but it does not appear that the Moon is in a late enough degree of Leo to trigger Saturn - Uranus. One could argue that Saturn - Uranus, within 1 degree 19 minutes of exact, doesn't need the Moon to trigger it, but neither Saturn nor Uranus is in an angular house, which would make either body more prominent in the chart.

Now let's get three dimensional and start using declinations, which add the third dimension by showing how much above or below the celestial equator a celestial object is (for a refresher on parallels and contraparallels, see Free Primer ). There are two outstanding contraparallels(using a two degree orb), one between the Sun and Saturn and the other between the Moon and Uranus. Additionally, Mars and Mercury are in parallel. So, you see, the Moon WAS activating Uranus, a main signification of accidents, and Mercury- Mars was active, another accident prone combination and/or sloppy inspection or repair procedures. 

The question is, of course, what caused the crash. The crash chart (see below) shows Mercury close to the IC (which represents the end of the matter) and squaring the ascendant. With Mercury very slow, something could have been overlooked with the inspection process. And indeed, Paris 2 Television reported on their evening news on November 4 (which I have a recording of) that the plane that crashed had experienced difficulties with the reverse thrust mechanism when it took off from Cairo earlier in the day. This was the reason a Boeing 767 crashed several years ago, and this problem was something Boeing and the airlines were aware of that needed attention.  

There are also some very interesting midpoints involving Mercury in the crash chart that would indicate an error in the inspection process,  and/or lack of proper maintenance:

Mercury/Saturn opposite the East Point

Mercury/Saturn squares Sun/Pluto

Mercury Saturn squares Uranus/Ascendant

Additionally, Saturn/Pluto sits on the descendant of the takeoff chart and squares the IC of the crash chart, another indicator of possible sabotage or subversive activity.

Please find the charts below, courtesy of Matrix software.