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![Relatives of passengers aboard the crashed Metrojet airliner in Egypt react to the news in St Petersburg [Xinhua]](http://thebricspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/248576977_8-e1446290417656.jpg)
Relatives of passengers aboard the crashed Metrojet airliner in Egypt react to the news in St Petersburg [Xinhua]
The Airbus A-321 operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia (also known as Siberia-based Metrojet) was carrying 217 passengers – 17 of whom were children – and 7 crew members. Egyptian authorities said all on board were Russians.
Egyptian media said that the country’s fighter jets flying reconnaissance located a debris site in Al-Hassana in central Sinai.
There were unconfirmed reports in some local media that the plane had been split in two.
Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, who earlier formed a task force in cooperation with Russian authorities to investigate the cause of the crash, canceled a plan trip to the city of Ismailiyah and met with his cabinet in emergency session early Saturday.
Egyptian media reported that he was headed to the crash site at Al-Hassana, 300km north of the popular Sharm el Sheikh resort frequented by Russian tourists.
Ismail said that 54 ambulance and relief vehicles had arrived at the crash site. Some Egyptian media reported that bodies were now being recovered.
Russia announced that it would immediately dispatch its transport minister and an entourage of aviation officials and experts to Sinai. Moscow said it would also send a number of aircraft to assist Egyptian relief efforts.
It is still unclear whether there are any survivors, and the cause of the crash has not yet been determined.
Egyptian media quoting unnamed officials said that initial indications point to “technical failure”.
The BRICS Post
