A Russian airliner has crashed in central Sinai killing all 224 people on board, Egyptian officials have said. The Airbus A-321 had just left the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, bound for the Russian city of St Petersburg.
Wreckage was found in the Hasana area and bodies removed, along with the plane's "black box". An official described a "tragic scene" with bodies of victims still strapped to seats.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced Sunday a day of mourning. He has ordered an official investigation into the crash, and for rescue teams to be sent to the crash site.
Egyptian officials said all the passengers were Russian. A commission headed by Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov is to leave for Egypt on Saturday afternoon. A criminal case has also been opened against the airline, Kogalymavia, for "violation of rules of flight and preparation for them", Russia's Ria news agency reported.
The airline, based in western Siberia, operates under the name Metrojet.
Russian authorities say it was carrying 217 passengers, 138 of them women and 17 children aged between 2 and 17. Most were tourists. There were seven crew on board.
Egyptian officials investigating the scene said there were no survivors.
A centre to help relatives of the passengers has been set up at Pulkovo airport, Tass news agency quoted St Petersburg city officials as saying.
Source - BBC
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