Salwa Hegazy (1933–1973) was an Egyptian television presenter and poet. She died on board Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114, shot down by Israeli fighter jets. ^[1]

Life

Hegazy was born in Port Said and educated at the French-language Lycee School. She started her media career with Riyadh Radio. ^[1] In 1960 she moved to be a presenter on Egyptian state television. ^[2] There she presented programmes including A Recorded Tape, Reportage, Art and Life, and a children's show, The Sparrows, which gave Hagay the nickname Mama Salwa. She also presented news bulletins in French. ^[1]

She published four collections of poetry, including Shades and Lights in French, with an introduction by Ahmed Rami. ^[1]

Hegazy was among the 108 passengers killed when Israeli fighter jets shot down Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 on 21 February 1973. This Libyan civilian plane was en route from Benghazi to Cairo, but a sandstorm caused it to stray from its course into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, then under Israeli occupation. ^[1]

Hegazy had four children. In 2003 the family filed a lawsuit against Israel, trying to bring Israeli officials to justice. ^[1]

References