Yemi Adebowale
A Russian airliner has crashed in central Sinai with more than 200 people on board, the office of Egypt’s prime minister confirmed on Friday.
The Airbus A-321 had just taken off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, on its way to the Russian city of St Petersburg.
There were conflicting reports about the fate of the plane, some suggesting it had disappeared over Cyprus.
Most of the passengers are said to be Russian tourists.
The plane is operated by the Russian airline Kogalymavia. Latest reports say it is carrying 217 passengers and seven crew.
According to the Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsiya, flight 9268 left Sharm el-Sheikh at 06:51 Moscow time (03:51 GMT) and was due into St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport at 12:10.
The authority added that the aircraft failed to make scheduled contact with Cyprus air traffic control 23 minutes after take-off and disappeared from the radar.
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