Russian plane crash: Kogalymavia Airbus A-321 with 224 on board 'destroyed' in Sinai
- A plane operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia crashed in Egypt
- The Airbus A-321 went down the restive Sinai peninsula
- Flight 7K 9268 from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg carried 224 people
- Egyptian authorities said all those on board were killed in the incident
- The Islamic State jihadi group has dubiously claimed it downed the aircraft
- Authorities say evidence suggests a technical failure was to blame
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More than 100 bodies have been pulled from the plane wreckage so far, the Egyptian government said, the BBC reports. They are being taken to a Cairo morgue for examination before being flown to Russia for burial.
Flight operator Kogalymavia, also known as Metrojet, has identified the crashed plane captain as Valery Nemov.The airline described him as an "experienced" pilot who had clocked 12,000 air hours, including 3,860 flying A321s.
The company said the aircraft was in good shape, with all safety checks duly carried out. The plane underwent required factory maintenance in 2014.
The Kremlin has published a statement reporting on a phone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the initiative of the Egyptian side.
Mr el-Sisi expressed deep condolences in connection with the crash of the Russian passenger airliner, which caused great loss of life.
The President of Egypt assured Mr Putin that conditions will be created for the broadest possible participation of Russian experts in the investigation of the plane crash.
Europe's aviation giants Lufthansa and Air France-KLM have said they are to avoid flying over the Sinai peninsula until the causes for this morning plane crash are clear.
"We will continue to avoid the area until it is clear what caused the crash," Lufthansa told Reuters. Air France- KLM described the decision as a "precaution".
The move comes after the Islamic State jihadi group claimed it was responsible for the disaster despite little or no supporting evidence.
Lufthansa also offered its condolences to the victims on Twitter.
The first images from the crash have been published by Russian website Lifenews. The pictures show to smoke rising from charred wreckage as military personnel is seen in a vast desert area in the background.
A purported passenger list of flight 7K9268 has been posted online by the Russian association of tour operators.
The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the plane crash in an online statement. The jihadi group said it downed the aircraft although it didn't specify how. Its local branch is active in the restive area where flight 7K9268 came down but it is not known to have weaponry necessary to shoot down a passenger flight flying at high altitude.
Egyptian officials said a technical problem was most likely the cause of the incident, adding there is no indication the Aribus A321 was downed. IS claim is in line with the group's terror propaganda campaign.
US Secretary of State John Kerry offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
"We don't know any details about it, but obviously the initial reports represent tremendous tragedy, loss, and we extend our condolences to the families and all those concerned," he said during an official visit to Kyrgyzstan.
25-year-old Ella Smirnova whose parents were on board flight 7K9268 told AFP in St Petersburg: "I spoke to them last on the phone when they were already on the plane, and then I heard the news.
"I will keep hoping until the end that they are alive, but perhaps I will never see them again".
Meanwhile Moscow said it has deployed rescue teams to Egypt to help local authorities.
The Russian embassy in Cairo tweeted the plane was trying to reach the northern Sinai city of El Arish for an emergency landing after reporting technical issues on board.
More details are emerging as rescue teams arrive at the crash site. Russian media are reporting that at least five of the 17 children on board have died in the incident and their bodies have been pulled from the wreckage.
The plane is reported to have broken down in two separate parts during the crash. The tail end is understood to have caught fire.
A rescue official told Reuters: "I now see a tragic scene. A lot of dead on the ground and many died whilst strapped to their seats."
Kogalymavia is a small airline based in western Siberia. It usually operates under the name Metrojet and is not among companies blacklisted by the EU over their poor safety record.
The aircraft that crashed was put into service 18 years ago, according to Russian media.
Islamist militants allied to the Islamic State (IS) are active in the norther part of the Sinai Peninsula, where they are leading an armed struggle against the Egyptian government.
Egyptian security sources told Reuters that there were no early indications that the plane was shot down. Poor weather conditions are reported in the crash area.
The Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation said a Russian plane that went down in the restive Sinai peninsula was carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members.
The flight opearated by Russian airline Kogalymavia disappeared from radar screens 23 minutes after taking-off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on 31 October.
Rescue teams are looking for the aircraft that was bound for St Petersburg in Russia. A security sources told Reuters the Airbus A-321 was completely destroyed in the crash.
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