Russian Passenger Plane Crashes Over Egypt

Note: This entry has to do with the Russian Aircraft that was shot down over Syria, where both Pilots ejected and one was shot and killed in mid-air. Another Serviceman was killed in the recue. This Music Video and Poem is dedicated to them.


This entryAs reported by "Russian Spring" Russia is in love with the poem about the downing of the Russian bomber in Syria. Singer Vitaliy Zhurba wrote the music and sang the song "I am not Charlie, I am Su-24" and sent the video to the "Russian Spring".

Men and women, children and adults in Russia are sharing the poem by Sergey Efimov through social networks, which the author dedicated to the Russian bomber Su-24, downed by the Turks.


"I am not Charlie, I am Su-24" - new music video blows up Russian internet (Video 2:26 min.)
http://fortruss.blogspot.ru/2015/12/i-am-not-charlie-i-am-su-24-new-music.html

Heavens suddenly turned into hell,

Treacherous blow from around the corner...

I am a plane with the soul of a man

With a special geometry of the wing.



When they stab you in the back, they know they will not miss it ...

They know the vulnerable spots...

And the pain that started somewhere in the fuselage

Pierces from the cockpit to the tail.



What the hell is going on in this world?!

I can not see through fire and smoke.

I'm not Charlie, I am Su-24,

And where are the signs with my name?



I spiral down, my head is spinning

Mixing all like in a kaleidoscope.

I have no chance for salvation,

I meet the inevitable head on.



The earth will embrace me and will shelter me forever,

My flight recorder is engulfed in haze.

I am a plane with the soul of a man

With special geometry of the wing.
 
[quote angelburst29]
"I am not Charlie, I am Su-24" - new music video blows up Russian internet (Video 2:26 min.)
http://fortruss.blogspot.ru/2015/12/i-am-not-charlie-i-am-su-24-new-music.html [/quote]


Thanks for posting the poem angelburst29, it is really beautiful and brought tears to my eyes.
 
No evidence of terrorism in Sinai plane crash, Egypt says

_http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/14/no-evidence-of-terrorism-sinai-air-crash-egypt-says

Preliminary report into downing of Russian airliner says nothing indicates a crime, despite Isis claiming responsibility

Egyptian investigators have said they have found no evidence of terrorism or foul play behind the crash of a Russian airliner, in a statement at odds with Russia’s view that the plane was downed by a bomb.

The civil aviation ministry in Cairo said a preliminary report into the Metrojet crash that killed 224 people on 31 October had been completed on Sunday. Nearly all the victims were Russian holidaymakers returning from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “The technical investigative committee has so far not found anything indicating any illegal intervention or terrorist action,” the ministry said.

Russian and western intelligence agencies have, however, indicated they believe an improvised explosive was smuggled aboard the plane at Sharm airport, with Britain leading a halt of flights to the resort over security fears.

A group in Sinai linked to Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, and the Isis publication Dabiq carried photographs of the supposed device.

Egypt’s chief investigator, Ayman al-Muqaddam, said the search for wreckage had extended more than 10 miles (16km) from the main crash site. He said investigators had analysed the plane’s computers and were currently checking the technical details and repairs carried out on the Airbus A321 since it was built in 1997. The Egyptian air force will assist in moving the wreckage to Cairo for further scrutiny.

According to the Interfax news agency, Russia has yet to receive the Egyptian preliminary report. A Kremlin spokesman said: “I can remind you of the conclusion of our experts from the special services, who came to the conclusion that it was a terrorist action.”

Last month, the federal security service’s director, Alexander Bortnikov, said an improvised bomb with the force of up to 1kg of TNT blew up onboard the plane, and traces of explosives had been found in the plane debris.

Although authorities in Cairo have opened an investigation into a possible security breach at Sharm el-Sheikh airport, including militants infiltrating the baggage handling or catering staff, Egypt has been reluctant to admit the possibility of a bomb attack.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Egyptian media were quick to hint or even openly accuse “the West” of restricting flights to Egypt not out of safety concerns because of a wish to undermine the country or prevent President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi from making Egypt too strong.

Mounting evidence that the plane was most likely brought down by a terrorist bomb has made such statements look embarrassing. It is widely assumed that the attack came in retaliation for Russia’s direct military intervention on the side of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

“When it comes to a lot of the technical procedures that countries are supposed to carry out after a downing of an airliner, Egypt is not doing all that badly,” said H.A Hellyer, an Egypt specialist at the Atlantic Council and the RUSI thinktank in London.

“But the messaging, the discourse, the public declarations - it’s been woefully lacking. Pretty much the entire international community has concluded that it was a bomb that brought down the Metrojet flight - yet Cairo is unwilling to even validate that as a likely possibility. It’s incorrigible, really.

“It can’t be that the powers that be in Cairo reject that possibility at all - but there seems to be an incredible amount of posturing for public messaging internally. This appears to have turned into a pride issue - which is bizarre, because the bombing of an airliner could have happened anyway.”

Egypt’s tourism industry has been badly hit over the years by the fallout from terror attacks. Holiday flights from Russia and Britain to its top winter sun resort will not resume until 2016, leaving it virtually empty for what should be peak season, and overall tourist revenues are expected to fall by at least 10% this year.

This would also not be the first time Egypt’s investigators have stood alone against the international consensus on plane disasters. The 1999 crash of EgyptAir flight 990, also on 31 October, was found by American investigators to be deliberately caused by the pilot flying the plane into the sea, but Egypt claimed it was a mechanical failure of the Boeing 767’s controls.
Click to expand...
 
Russia says identified groups behind plane crash in Sinai
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/12/24/443065/Russia-Egypt-FSB-Alexander-Bortnikov

Thursday December 14, 2015 - The head of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) says the agency has managed to identify groups responsible for the October crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt.

"You know, work [on this matter] is underway. So far, I am unable to tell you anything specific. We have determined the approximate origin of the entities that may be related to this," Alexander Bortnikov said on Thursday.

He further noted that the FSB was unable to find the people involved in the Russian plane crash.

On October 31, an Airbus A321, run by Russia’s Kogalymavia airline, crashed in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all the 224 people – mostly Russians – on board.

An affiliate of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, which is based in Egypt’s troubled Sinai, claimed responsibility for the incident.

On November 17, the FSB said that the plane was brought down by a bomb, confirming speculations that the crash had been a terrorist act.

The incident drew criticism about Egypt’s airport security and hit the North African country's tourism sector, with a number of European airlines suspending flights to and from there.

Egypt has been witnessing deadly attacks carried out by Daesh-linked Takfiri militants in the Sinai Peninsula since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the African state’s first democratically-elected president, in July 2013.
 
EgyptAir Mechanic, Three Others Detained over A321 Air Crash in Sinai
http://en.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13941109000760

TEHRAN (FNA)- A mechanic, two airport policemen, and a baggage handler were reportedly detained on suspicion they collaborated in bringing a bomb on board the Russian A321 passenger jet.

An EgyptAir mechanic and three other individuals are suspected of their involvement in the fatal crash of the Russian A321 passenger jet crash over the Sinai Peninsula that killed all 224 on board, Reuters reported on Friday.

The news agency cited sources who wished to remain anonymous that the mechanic, two airport policemen, and a baggage handler had been detained on suspicion they collaborated in bringing a bomb on board the aircraft.



Kremlin Tight-Lipped on Identification of Sinai Plane Crash Culprits
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/news/article/kremlin-tight-lipped-on-identification-of-sinai-plane-crash-culprits/557342.html

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov neither confirmed nor denied reports that security services had identified those responsible for the downing of a Russian passenger plane in October 2015, the RBC news agency reported Thursday.

“I cannot tell you. You should probably ask the security services,” Peskov said, RBC reported Thursday.

Tabloid website LifeNews reported on Thursday that Russian and Egyptian intelligence agencies had identified those responsible for the downing of an Airbus A321 over Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Oct. 31, 2015. The terrorist attack killed all 224 people on board.

According to the LifeNews report, authorities are searching for at least six people, including the Sharm el-Sheikh Airport employee responsible for carrying the explosive on board the Russian passenger plane.

The man left Egypt after carrying out the terrorist act, and his last known whereabouts were recorded in Turkey, LifeNews reported.



Airline Mechanic 'Suspect In Russia Jet Crash'
http://news.sky.com/story/1632454/airline-mechanic-suspect-in-russia-jet-crash

IS delivered a bomb in a handbag to Sharm el Sheikh airport after learning a member had a cousin working there, a source claims.

An EgyptAir mechanic whose cousin joined Islamic State (IS) is suspected of planting a bomb on board a Russian passenger plane that was blown up in mid-air, sources have told Reuters.

So far Egypt has said it has found no evidence that the Metrojet flight, which took off from Sharm el Sheikh airport and crashed in the Sinai Peninsula in October with 224 people on board, was brought down by terrorism.

A senior security official at EgyptAir denied that any of its employees had been arrested or were under suspicion, while an Interior Ministry official also said there had been no arrests.

But Reuters' sources, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, said the mechanic had been detained along with two airport policemen and a baggage handler suspected of helping him put the bomb on the plane.

"After learning that one of its members had a relative that worked at the airport, Islamic State delivered a bomb in a handbag to that person," one of the sources told the news agency, adding the suspect's cousin joined IS in Syria 18 months ago.

"He was told to not ask any questions and get the bomb on the plane."

Another source said of the other suspects: "Two policemen are suspected of playing a role by turning a blind eye to the operation at a security checkpoint.

"But there is a possibility that they were just not doing their jobs properly."

None of those arrested have been prosecuted so far, the sources said.

In the aftermath of the crash, an IS affiliate has claimed responsibility for bringing down the Airbus 321-200.

IS' online magazine later carried a photo of a Schweppes can it claimed was used to make an improvised bomb that brought down the jet.

The photo showed a can of Schweppes Gold soft drink and what appeared to be a detonator and switch on a blue background.

Russia and Western nations have long said they believe the flight was downed by a bomb smuggled on board.

But Egypt has so far publicly said it has not found any evidence of foul play.

If there are formal charges or official confirmation from Egypt that a bomb brought down the plane, Cairo could potentially be required to make compensation payments to the families of the victims.

The EgyptAir official said state security police had investigated all of the workers at the airport and did not find any evidence implicating them.

The official added state security traced the family connections of all the employees and they were cleared.

"Any employee who shows sympathy to militants is prevented from going to work in any airport," he was quoted as saying by Reuters.

An Interior Ministry source also said no one had been arrested in connection with the crash and they were waiting for the results of the investigation.



EgyptAir mechanic suspected in Russian plane crash: Sources
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/186211/Egypt/Politics-/EgyptAir-mechanic-suspected-in-Russian-plane-crash.aspx

An EgyptAir mechanic whose cousin joined ISIS in Syria is suspected of planting a bomb on a Russian passenger plane that was blown out of Egypt's skies in late October, according to sources familiar with the matter.

So far Egypt has publicly said it has found no evidence that the MetroJet flight, which crashed in North Sinai Peninsula after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, killing all 224 people on board, was brought down by terrorism.

A senior security official at the airline denied that any of its employees had been arrested or were under suspicion, and an Interior Ministry official also said there had been no arrests.

But the sources, who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, said the mechanic had been detained, along with two airport policemen and a baggage handler suspected of helping him put the bomb on board.

"After learning that one of its members had a relative that worked at the airport, Islamic State delivered a bomb in a handbag to that person," said one of the sources, adding the suspect's cousin joined Islamic State in Syria a year and a half ago.

"He was told to not ask any questions and get the bomb on the plane."

Another source said of the other suspects: "Two policemen are suspected of playing a role by turning a blind eye to the operation at a security checkpoint. But there is a possibility that they were just not doing their jobs properly."

None of the four have been prosecuted so far, the sources told Reuters.
 
Airbus A321 plane crash victims' memorial tender is about to finish and memorial is planned to be installed soon in the Russian western Leningrad Region.

Memorial for A321 Egypt Crash Victims to Be Installed in Leningrad Region
http://sputniknews.com/russia/20160610/1041117425/memorial-victims-leningrad-a321.html

The results of the contest for the best memorial for the victims of the Airbus A321 plane crash over the Sinai Peninsula is planned to be announced in the Russian western Leningrad Region, a source in regional government told RIA Novosti Friday.

On October 31, the A321 passenger jet crashed over the Sinai en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, killing 224 people on board, including crew members. Russia’s Federal Security Service said a terrorist attack had caused the tragedy. On total 48 residents of the Leningrad region were on board.

"Governor of Leningrad Region Alexander Drozdenko signed an order for carrying out an open and creative contest for the best project of memorial for the victims of the plane crash over the Sinai Peninsula," the source said without elaborating on the details.

The source added that the results of the contest would determine the design and the location of the memorial.

The exhibition of the projects of memorial for the A321 crash victims was launched in St. Petersburg in May.


Russia may send another expert team on flight security to EgyptAir A321 flight crash, Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia Head Alexander Neradko said Friday.
Click to expand...

Russia May Send Another Flight Safety Team to Egypt After Cairo's Respond
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160610/1041139604/russia-egypt-flight-safety.html

Russia may send another expert team on flight security to Egypt after Cairo responds to the Moscow's latest inquiry, Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia Head Alexander Neradko said Friday.

"We have formalized our remarks, sent the Egyptian side, but we can not rush them because it is their responsibility, it is their territory, it is their obligation," Neradko told reporters.

The Rosaviatsia head added that Moscow plans to send another expert team to the country "but only after we get a formal report from the Egyptian side."

Neradko refused to make any projections on the terms of resuming flights between the two countries.
 
(CIA) Director John Brennan has made a "statement" during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee that a terrorist group within Daesh is responsible for the downing of A321? In the report, other then the statement, no further information or evidence is given to substantiate the claim?


CIA: Daesh-Affiliated Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis Downed Russian A321 in Egypt
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160616/1041455544/cia-daesh-maqdis-a321.html

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, a terrorist group that pledged allegiance to Daesh, is responsible for the downing of the Russian A321 passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, according to the CIA head.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — An Egyptian sect of Daesh, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, is responsible for the downing of the Russian A321 passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula on October 31 that killed all 224 people on board, US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan said during a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday.

"There’s a group within the Sinai, ISIL [Daesh], it used to be an Egyptian terrorist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which was basically consumed by ISIL [Daesh] and that group pledged allegiance to ISIL [Daesh]…and we do attribute the downing of that Russian airliner to this group," Brennan said.
 
Egyptian Foreign Ministry gives no comment on the alleged involvement of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, the Egyptian cell of Daesh, in downing of the Russian A321 passenger plane, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid told Sputnik.

Cairo Refuses to Comment on Alleged Daesh Cell Involvement in A321 Crash
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160616/1041473658/a321-crash-daesh.html

Earlier in the day, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Brennan said that Ansar Beit al-Maqdis was behind the terrorist attack on the Russian passenger jet.

"The Russian side told us the same thing and we replied that the investigation was still ongoing. We will not comment on the CIA director's statement," Abu Zeid said.
 
An Egyptian delegation, led by the country's Prosecutor General Nabil Sadek, has left for Moscow to present the Russian side with results of the investigation into Russia's A321 passenger plane crash over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, local media reported on Tuesday.

Egyptian Prosecutor General to Present A321 Crash Investigation Results
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160726/1043623992/a321-crash-investigation.html

The delegation also includes Ayman Muqaddam, the head of the Egypt-led A321 crash investigation committee, as well as Civil Aviation Minister Sherif Fathi, the Middle East News Agency reported.

Earlier in July, Fathi visited Moscow and held a meeting with Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov. During the visit, Fathi announced that the investigation has entered its final stages.

The minister also invited the Russian Transport Ministry experts to visit Egypt in order to resolve the remaining issues. The Russian side said that the visit depends on Egypt's fulfillment of its obligations on ensuring airport security. Later, Sokolov said that Russian flight safety experts may visit Egypt in September.

On October 31, 2015, Airbus A321 operated by the Russian airline Kogalymavia crashed in the Sinai Peninula. The plane, carrying 224 people, was heading to St. Petersburg from the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. Russia's Investigative Committee has officially classified the plane crash as a terrorist attack.
 
Russian experts have inspected the debris of a Russia-operated Airbus A321 that crashed in the Sinai desert in October 2015, local media reported Sunday citing its sources in the Cairo airport.

Russian Experts Inspect A321 Debris in Cairo as Part of Probe Into 2015 Crash
http://sputniknews.com/world/20160828/1044721772/russia-inspect-sinai-airplane-crash-debris.html

According to Sada El Balad news portal, the Russian delegation, consisting of four persons, spent two hours inspecting the plane and then had a meeting with the Egyptian side. Two experts from Germany and Ayman Muqaddam, the head of the Egypt-led investigation committee into the crash, joined the inspection of the debris, that had been transported to the Cairo airport territory, according to the media outlet.
 
Some 224 people died when a Russian Airbus A321 crashed in the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, 2015, in what is considered to be the largest aviation disaster in Russian history.

Monument to Victims of Sinai A321 Plane Crash Opened in St Petersburg (Photos)
https://sputniknews.com/russia/201710281058623857-plane-crash-a321-monument/

The сommitte on social policy in St. Petersburg announced on Friday the monument 'Folded Wings' has been opened at the Serafimovskoye Cemetery at the burial place of unidentified remains of the victims who died in the aircraft crash over the Sinai Peninsula.

During the official ceremony, which was attended by local authorities, 25 balloons symbolizing the number of children who died in the plane crash were released into the sky.

Hundreds of people took part in the opening of the memorial, among which were relatives and friends of the victims of the plane crash.

Flowers to the memorial were laid by the governor of St. Petersburg Georgi Poltavchenko and the vice-governor Igor Albin.

A Russian Airbus A321 crashed over the Sinai peninsula soon after taking off from Sharm El-Sheikh. Russian security services called the incident that killed all 224 on board the St. Petersburg-bound flight an act of terrorism.

The investigation is still ongoing. Following the incident, Russia suspended all flights to and from Egypt, a suspension which is still in force.
 
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