Russia suspends all flights to Egypt in wake of Metrojet crash

Valdimir Putin has ordered the suspension of all Russian passenger flights until the cause of the Russian Metrojet Flight 9268 crash is established, Reuters reported.

UK investigators believe a bomb was put in the hold of the plane prior to take-off, killing all 224 people on board, according to BBC News.

A Sinai-based group affiliated with Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the crash.

It goes a step further than the UK and Ireland, which suspended flights to the resort city of Sharm al-Sheikh.

Only flights from the city to the UK have since resumed with added security measures, however some airlines are struggling to get planes into the city to evacuate tourists.

Reuters said the decision from the Kremlin is the first sign that Moscow is attaching credibility to the theory the plane was blown up.

The head of Russia's FSB security service Alexander Bortnikov recommended the move until the cause of the crash was determined.

"The head of state agreed with these recommendations," a spokesman for the Russian president was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency.

Putin also ordered the government to open talks with Egyptian authorities to guarantee the safety of flights and to ensure the return of Russian citizens, Reuters said.

Previously, Russia has maintained that all theories including the possibility of technical failure should be investigated before it could say what the cause of the crash was.