Aviation Ministry: Findings from Russian plane crash show no indications of terrorism

Preliminary findings of investigations into the Russian plane crash do not yet indicate an “illegitimate intervention or terrorist act,” Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said Monday.

The work of the committee tasked with investigating the crash that killed 224 people in Sinai in October is still ongoing, however, the ministry said in a statement.

This comes almost a month after Russia announced that the Metrojet plane crash was the result of a "terrorist act," explaining that traces of explosives were discovered among personal belongings, baggage and parts of the aircraft.

The Russian passenger plane was carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh early on October 31.

While militant group Province of Sinai immediately claimed responsibility for the crash, Egypt repeatedly denied any reports of a terrorist attack, focusing instead on defending its security standards and reiterating that investigations were still ongoing.

In its statement, the Civil Aviation Ministry said that the committee finished its preliminary report on Sunday night and it was sent to all states involved in the investigation, as well as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It added that the Air Forces coordinated 15 flights to the scene of the crash with the Armed Forces to move the wreckage and assemble it in a secure place in Cairo, allowing the committee to begin another round of investigations.

Following the Russian Federal Security Service’s report on the crash last month, Russian President Vladmir Putin vowed to find and punish the perpetrators.

Russian aviation authorities have banned all EgyptAir flights to Russia from November 14. The country has also suspended all its passenger flights to Egypt.