Russia to decide whether to resume flights to Egypt after bombing
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 7 September 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Russia to decide whether to resume flights to Egypt after bombing, 7 September 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/58189d3913.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 07, 2016
A Russian delegation will arrive in Egypt on September 7 to decide whether flights to the country should resume after a Russian passenger plane was blown up last October.
The delegation of experts will assess security and technical reforms taken by Egypt to improve safety, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry said on September 6.
The downed Airbus A321, operated by Metrojet, was carrying Russian vacationers from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh to St. Petersburg when it broke up over the Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 people onboard.
The Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility for bringing down the plane with a bomb smuggled inside a soft-drink can.
Russia and Western governments confirmed shortly afterward that a bomb brought the plane down and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi later said the cause was terrorism.
Russia suspended flights to Egypt as a result, devastating the Arab nation's important tourist sector.
Based on reporting by Reuters and TASS
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
