Russian plane crash: Terrorist attack or a tragic accident?
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At least there major airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa and Air France, announced that they will stop flying over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula after the Russian commercial plane crashed there killing all 224 passengers and crew.
The Airbus A321-200, operated by the Moscow-based Metrojet airline, crashed in a remote mountainous area of the Sinai Peninsula 23 minutes after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh on Saturday morning. The plane was carrying mainly Russian tourists returning from holidays in the popular Red Sea resort.
Despite earlier reports stating that the plane’s pilot had contacted air trafficking control tower before the crash, Egyptian Minister for civil aviation said late on Saturday that the pilot did not make a distress call.
Mohamed Hossam Kemal told a press conference that communications between the plane and air traffic control had been normal and that nothing irregular had occurred before the plane crashing. “The plane did not request a change of route,” he said.
The Islamic State has claimed responsibility on the plane crash by releasing a video showing the final moments of the Russian jet. The horrific footage cannot been verified and it doesn’t offer any evidence that the group brought down the plane, apart from their word.
Cairo and Moscow have denied any possible terrorism link in the incident.