Egypt just opened 3,500-year-old tombs and found a mummy

The latest in a "year of discoveries."

Egypt has announced the discovery of two 3,500-year-old tombs, one of which contains a mummy, in the latest major find by archaeologists in the country.

"It’s truly an exceptional day," the antiquities minister, Khaled al-Anani, said, according to The Guardian. “The 18th-dynasty private tombs were already known. But it’s the first time to enter inside the two tombs.”

Archaeologists believe that the tombs belonged to officials from ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes. A mummy wrapped in line was found in one of the tombs, believed to be "a top official or a powerful person."

Among other artifacts, the tombs also contained painted wooden funerary masks, funerary cones, clay vessels and about 450 statues.

In one of the tombs, there is also a large painted wall in excellent condition, particularly when considering how ancient it is.

“It’s really beautiful,” famed Egyptologist Zahi Hawass said, according to The Independent. "It looks like it was painted yesterday. In my opinion, this could be the best painted wall discovered in Draa Abou Naga in the last 100 years.”

Although it's unclear who the officials buried in the tombs were, the tomb of an 18th Dynasty magistrate named Userhat was opened in the same necropolis earlier this year.

Funerary seals with the names of Maati, a writer, and his wife Mohi were located in one of the structure's courtyards, leading to speculation that the tomb could belong to the couple, according to National Geographic.

The find is just the latest in a series that have been discovered throughout the past year. Egypt's antiquities ministry has made an extra effort to highlight and promote the fascinating treasures being unearthed on a regular basis.

Ministry officials have called 2017 the "year of discoveries," organizing press conferences to announce new discoveries.

Al-Anani stressed how important such findings are to the country's tourism sector, pointing out that the ministry must balance its budget between searching for new treasures while also maintaining other historic sites.

"If we have enough money then we have no problem,” the antiquities minister said. “But if not, we have to balance our expenses between maintaining monuments and making excavations.”

In 2014, Egypt's revenues from tourism reportedly dropped more than 90 percent, due to instability in the country. Since then, a series of terrorist attacks, some of which have targeted tourists, have left the sector struggling to regain its once vital role in the country's economy.

Fire breaks out on Qatar Airways plane during maintenance in Doha

"Whilst there was some damage to the aircraft there were no injuries."

Last week, a fire broke out on a Qatar Airways plane while it was parked for maintenance at Hamad International Airport in Doha. 

The fire broke out in the cabin of the Airbus A321-200 on Dec. 8, according to Aviation Herald, as the aircraft's in-flight entertainment system and satcom antenna were being checked. 

The fire extensively damaged the roof of the aircraft, just moments before it was put out. 

Luckily, no injuries were reported. The aircraft "sustained substantial damage and possibly needs to be written off," as reported by AV Herald.

"Whilst there was some damage to the aircraft there were no injuries," the airline said in a statement.

Pictures shared online show extensive damage to both the aircraft's interior and exterior. 

The airline has not yet released an official statement regarding the overall details of the damage. 

The fire is said to have originated in IFE/Satcom antenna built inside the cabin rooftop, according to JACDECHowever, an investigation into the matter continues. 

The Qatar Airways plane had last flown on Dec. 6, from Moscow to Doha.