Russian Passenger Plane crashed after Takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh

October 31st, 2015

Awake Goy

nsnbc : A Russian Airbus 321 bound for St. Petersburg, Russia, disappeared from radar minutes after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt. The passenger jet, belonging to Kogalmavia Airlines a.k.a Metrojet, on Flight KGL9268 had reportedly 217 passengers and 7 crew on board.

Kogalmavia Airbus 321. Photo courtesy of Flighttracker.

The Director of Sharm el-Sheikh Airport, Hani Ramzy, told Egyptian media that the Airbus 321 disappeared from radar shortly after takeoff from the airport.

An official Statement by the Egyptian Cabinet notes that the plane took off from Sharm el-Sheikh Airport at 5:58 am (Cairo local time) heading for St. Petersburg city in Russia. It went off the radar at 6:20 am.

The planes of the Egyptian Armed Forces detected the wreckage of the ill-fated plane near al-hasanah area in a mountainous site.

Up to 45 ambulances were dispatched to the site of the crash to evacuate the victims and carry them to hospitals in Suez and Cairo in coordination with the Armed Forces.

A working group for the management of the crisis was formed to follow up the situation under the prime minister. It includes the ministers of social solidarity, civil aviation, interior, local development, tourism and health.

After initial reports about the jet having made contact with Turkish air traffic controllers and other reports that the plane had disappeared near Cyprus, it increasingly appears that the plane crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian Aviation Authorities reported that the plane has crashed near Nethel in the Sinai Peninsula. The Cairo Post and YOUM7 quote eyewitnesses who reported the plane crashing in Hasna village in the center of North Sinai. Ambulances and other vehicles had reportedly been deployed to the crash site.

The Cairo Post quotes Egyptian Cabinet sources as saying that a total of 50 ambulances were deployed to the crash site and that the bodies of victims are currently being recovered from the plane debris in Al-Hasna village.

Bodies will according to these Cabinet sources be brought to the Zeinhom Morgue and the injured to Nasser Institute and Dar el-Shefa hospitals. At about 13:30 it was confirmed that there were no survivors and that all of the 224 on board had perished. Most of the passengers have been Russian citizens.

Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail has canceled his scheduled visit to Ismailia governorate after hearing reports about the crash. There have thus far not been any reports about the possible causes of the crash. Initial reports suggest that the aircrew requested permission for an emergency landing at Cairo Airport due to a technical malfunction while ascending to cruising altitude. The plane reportedly crashed about 24 minutes after takeoff from the Red Sea resort.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reportedly dispatched three planes to Sinai. The Egyptian Cabinet is reportedly holding “intensive meetings”, including the portfolios of civil aviation, tourism, social solidarity, interior, local development, foreign ministry and ambulance authority.

Egypt’s prosecutor-general ordered an investigation into the causes of the crash of the Russian airliner. Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors tasked with the investigation of the crash and the crash site.

The involvement of the office of the Prosecutor-General may be due to the fact that foul play, at this time, cannot be excluded. Egypt is fighting an insurgency in the North Sinai peninsula. The involvement should, however, not lead to premature conclusions. It is, rather, at this stage, a precautionary measure.

Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek ordered the formation of a team of prosecutors tasked with going to the site of the crash and investigating the debris. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the formation of a commission to investigate the crash, reports the Russian State news agency Tass.

Sharm el-Sheikh is one of Egypt’s top tourist locations. Kogalmavia (Kogalymavia) Airlines, based in Siberia is operating budget flights between St. Petersburg, Russia, and Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. This article will be updated or follow-up articles will be published as we receive further, verifiable information.

CH/L – nsnbc 31.10.2015