PHOTOS: First images emerge of EgyptAir flight debris

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt -- The Egyptian Armed Forces on Saturday morning released the first photos of debris from EgyptAir flight 804 recovered from the Mediterranean Sea.

The release of the photos follows confirmation that smoke was detected from within the doomed Airbus A320 aircraft shortly before it disappeared from radar. Experts believe this may point towards mechanical failure.

A spokesman for France's Le Bureau d'Enqutes et d'Analyses (BEA) -- the agency responsible for investigating aviation accidents -- cited data from ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) in confirming the detection of smoke in the aircraft. "We can confirm that we have seen ACARS messages from flight MS804 in which it is written that smoke was detected on board," the spokesman told ABC News. "At this stage we still do not know what happened on board. Our priority is to locate the wreckage and the black boxes."

The above photo shows parts of a seat from the plane.

The above life jacket was recovered from the Mediterranean Sea by search crews.

Above, additional debris from the flight was recovered.

Parts of a flotation device from underneath a seat, above, was recovered by Egyptian rescuers.