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Hillary Clinton on EgyptAir crash: "It does appear" to be "act of terrorism"

EgyptAir has been a target of terror groups for a number of years, and an Egyptian aviation official says the latest plane crash is "more likely" terror-related than mechanical
Why the EgyptAir crash was "likely" terror related 06:16

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that the downing of an EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo "appears" to be the result of terrorism.

"It does appear that it was an act of terrorism," she said on CNN. "Exactly how, of course, the investigation will have to determine."

EgyptAir flight 804 left Paris early Thursday morning and crashed off the Greek island of Crete after a making abrupt turns and quickly losing elevation. Later in the morning, Egyptian officials said it was likely that terrorism was at play.

She said the incident "reinforces the need for American leadership, for the kind of smart, steady leadership that only America can provide."

Looking at Egypt's troubled aviation history 04:59

Asked about Donald Trump's response to the incident -- the presumptive GOP nominee tweeted Thursday morning that the crash "looks like yet another terrorist attack" -- Clinton attacked Trump's "wrong-headed" foreign policy views, including his suggestion that Muslims be temporarily banned from entering the U.S.

"The whole approach is just incredibly provocative and wrong-headed," she said. "And look what he's done just in the last week: he has attacked our closest ally, Great Britain. He has praised the reckless dictator in North Korea. He has said we should pull out of NATO, our strongest military alliance."

"The kinds of positions he is stating and the consequences of those positions and even the consequences of his statements are not just offensive to people, they are potentially dangerous," she added.

Clinton was asked directly whether she thinks Trump is qualified to be president.

"No, I do not," she replied.

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