EgyptAir flight MS804 crash: British victim Richard Osman described as a 'very admirable person'
'He's a new dad. A dad for the second time now and I know that would have filled him with love and joy. It's funny how quickly things change.'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The brother of Richard Osman, a qualified geologist and father of two feared dead after an EgyptAir plane crashed into the Mediterranean, has said Mr Osman was a "very admirable person".
Alastair Osman told ITV News: "Richard has two kids. Richard was a very kind person, loving person, very focused. He was a workaholic and never deviated from the straight path.
"A very admirable person and a lot of people admired him for his strength and values. He's a new dad. A dad for the second time now and I know that would have filled him with love and joy. It's funny how quickly things change."
Mr Osman, 40, is believed to be one of the 56 passengers on board the flight from Paris to Cairo.
Egyptian and Greek authorities in ships and planes searched the suspected crash area throughout the day for traces of the airliner or its victims, with more help on the way from the US, Britain and France.
Civil aviation minister Sherif Fathi said the disaster was still being investigated but the possibility it was a terror attack ”is higher than the possibility of having a technical failure“.
Asked about why Mr Osman was on the flight, his brother told the news programme: ”He would have been going to work I assume. I know he works in both Egypt and another country in Africa.
“I guess it was work related. He's been doing this for years in the gold mining industry. This was a regular trip. He used to do it at least once a month, year after year.”
Alastair Osman, who said the family of four were all born in Carmarthen, Wales, added: “This is the reality of Isis and groups like that. It's indiscriminate. They don't think any of these people have family members, or a past, or a history of hopes and dreams. It's indiscriminate.”
According to the Carmarthen Journal, Mr Osman is 40 and a former pupil at QE Cambria with family in the Swansea area.
The newspaper said he was the son of the late Fekri Osman, a founder of the Werndale private hospital in Bancyfelin.
His father moved to Wales from his native Egypt to work as a consultant in ear, nose and throat surgery in Singleton Hospital, Swansea, it said.
Alastair said that he knows nothing is concluded as of yet, but added, “it doesn't look good”.
He said other family members are still holding out and are advising others not to listen to the media too much due to conflicting evidence.
“Time is the only thing that will get us closer to the truth,” he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments