Investigation committee: Cause of fatal Russian plane crash still unknown

All possible causes of the fatal Russian plane crash in Sinai last week are still being considered, the head of the investigative committee stated in a press conference on Saturday.

Ayman al-Moqadem explained that the possibilities currently on the table include a lithium battery overheating, engine failure, or a bomb, adding that there is no sufficient evidence proving any of these scenarios so far.

The Russian aircraft crashed in Sinai on October 31, leaving 217 passengers and seven crew members dead. The UK government and Ireland both speculated that a bomb placed in the cargo of the plane was the most likely reason for the crash.

US media also reported that intelligence seemed to suggest a bomb was responsible, encouraging the British government to send aviation experts to test security procedures at Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, and to evacuate approximately 20,000 British citizens vacationing in the South Sinai resort.

The Russian government decided on Friday to halt all of its flights to Egypt until a final report by the committee investigating the crash has been released.

Moqadem added that 58 investigators from Egypt, Russia, France, Germany and Ireland are investigating the crash, divided into five different taskforces.

He explained that the committee is still in the process of examining evidence from the crash site, adding that debris was found scattered over 13 kilometers, which suggests the plane broke apart mid-flight, although this has not yet been determined. 

Noise was heard in the last second of the recording provided by the cockpit voice recorder, which Moqadem said would be analyzed in specialist laboratories.

He maintained the investigation committee has not officially received any intelligence reports from other sources, adding that the committee “welcomes any further information.”