The latest developments after a Russian passenger plane crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people on board (all times local). Inquiries into the cause of the crash have not yet been conclusive.
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The Russian airline, Kogalymavia, has blamed “external activity” for the crash. No other information was given from the preliminary examination.
Investigators said initial inspections showed no evidence of a missile strike or explosion and that it was too early to draw conclusions from the plane’s break-up, but the Kremlin has not ruled out terrorism in its investigation.
In Egypt, the U.S. Embassy has instructed its staff not to travel anywhere in the Sinai Peninsula pending the outcome of the investigation into the crash as a “precautionary measure”.
Kogalymavia airline deputy general director for flight operation Alexander Smirnov, Kogalymavia airline deputy general director for engineering Andrei Averyanov and Tourism Holding & Consulting (TH&C) chairwoman Oxana Golovina attend a news conference on Russian MetroJet Airbus A321 crash, in Moscow, Russia, 02 November 2015. The recovered bodies are now being repatriated. Russian transport minister Maxim Sokolov said it was a “fabrication”.
“While Airbus aircraft are equipped with sophisticated software created to help keep the plane flying within safe parameters, pilots must still maintain close attention to factors like speed, air temperature and altitude”.
On Monday the IAA told the BBC the airplane’s certifications “were satisfactory” on its last review.
Aleksandr Smirnov, who supervises the fleet of planes, told RT: “The only possible explanation is a mechanical force acting on the aircraft”.
A Russian cargo plane brought the first bodies of Russian victims killed in the crash to St. Petersburg, a city awash in grief for its missing residents. A second government plane was set to leave Cairo on Monday.
Shortly after the disaster, St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko declared an official period of mourning for the victims till Tuesday.
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He said the plane began falling out of control and the pilots had no time to report the emergency situation. However, Smirnov on Monday said the incident could not have led to Saturday’s plane crash.
