Russian Airliner Crash in Sinai, 224 Passengers on Board - No Survivor

Just in news. A Russian airliner has crashed in central Sinai killing all 224 people on board, Egyptian officials confirmed through BBC report.

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.

Airbus A-321 flight track

Sinai has an active militant network, and on Saturday afternoon, jihadis allied to the so-called Islamic State made a claim on social media that they brought down the plane, told BBC.

But Russian Transport Minister Maksim Sokolov told Interfax news agency that "such reports cannot be considered true". No evidence had been seen that indicated the plane was targeted, he said.

Security experts say a plane flying at that altitude would be beyond the range of a shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile (Manpad), which Sinai militants are known to possess.

Egyptian officials said 214 of the passengers were Russian and three Ukrainian.

Russian authorities say the plane 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. No mention if there's a Filipino on board the plane.

To be updated..

Source : BBC