Chairman of EgyptAir, Safwat Musallam has disclosed that advance compensation payments of $25,000 will be offered to families of the 66 people who lost their lives when one of its planes crashed into the Mediterranean last month.

The payments are separate to those expected from insurance companies on behalf of various parties depending on the investigation into the disaster.

“An insurance company will pay an advance of $25,000 after each family prepares its certificate of inheritance,” said Musallam, adding that “Death certificates will be ready before Thursday for Egyptians and foreigners.”

EgyptAir Flight MS804 was on its way from Paris to Cairo on May 19 before it disappeared from radar screens between the Greek island of Crete and the north coast of Egypt.

Passengers on board the plane included 30 Egyptians, 15 French, two Iraqis, two Canadians and one each from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

Seven crew and three security personnel were also on board.

Investigators have said it is too early to determine what caused the plane to crash, although a terror attack has not been ruled out.

Authorities in Cairo have begun examining the plane’s black boxes to ascertain the exact cause of the crash. Representatives from France and the United States are also taking part in the investigations.