Breaking News: Civilian Russian Airliner Has Crashed With 224 Passengers In Egypt

 
Breaking News:-About and hour ago, there were reports that a passenger jet has been lost from radar, with concerns over what has happened to it. The Egyptian Prime Minister’s office has now confirmed that a civilian, Russian A321 airbus Passenger Jet , belonging to the Russian company Metrobus airline, filled with holiday goers, on a four and half hour flight from Egypt to Russia has crashed in Egypt Central Sinai region with 217 passengers and crew including 17 children on board.

The plane was bringing back a group of Russian holiday makers to St Petersburg in Russia.

Just prior to the plane going off radar, the flight had reached cruise height when the pilot requested for directions to the nearest airport in the vicinity , citing technical problems and request to land.

The plane was requesting to be rerouted because of the difficulties it was experiencing. Whilst the crash zone is said to be a previous war zone, security have indicated that at this stage, there are no speculations of the plane having been downed.

Even though there is insurgency in Central Sinai, there is reasonable fear that, because the area of crash in Sinai is a mountaineous region, it is, in theory, easy for someone with a shoulder launched weapon to shoot down a moving plane from a mountain top even though the flight had reached cruising altitude at 9000 feet. However authorities have at the moment discarded all theories about foul play and leave the final announcement to findings from the investigations.

The site has been located and rescue and recovery operations are currently taking place but it is known that this will be a difficult exercise as the area is a remote desert site, in the desert Sinai Peninsula.

The plane’s black box were initially reported as having been recovered but there is now doubt arising that they have actually been located. It is reported that there are no survivors from the crash. Russian authorities, want the black boxes once found to be brought back to Russia where they can conduct a full independant investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his deepest condolences over the sad loss of lives and said all efforts are underway to give support in this case and five planes with support, investigations and rescue teams are due to leave Russia shortly for Egypt. Updates will be furnished as we receive them.

Putin has declared Sunday, an official day of national mourning. Flags will be flying at half mast, whilst cultural institutions television and radio stations have been told to cancel all entertainment programmes on the day. By Sibusiso Ngwenya
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