Sinai plane crash caused by 'external influence', Russian airline says

The Russian plane that crashed in Egypt over the weekend was caused by an “external influence”, according to the airline on Monday.

Airline, Kogalymavia, has ruled out a technical fault or pilot error for the crash in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Saturday, which killed all 224 people on board.

The Airbus 321 took off from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and was bound for the Russian city of St Petersberg before it lost speed and descended rapidly.

"The plane was in excellent condition," Alexander Smirnov, deputy general director of the airline, Kogalymavia, told a news conference in Moscow, according to Reuters. "We rule out a technical fault and any mistake by the crew," he said.

There had been no emergency call from the pilots to services on the ground during the flight, he added.

The aircraft’s engines had also undergone a routine inspection in Moscow on 26 October which found no problems. There were five flights before the crash and the crew recorded no technical problems in the aircraft's log book.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, adding: "Without any doubt, everything must be done to create an objective picture of events so that we know what happened and can react accordingly."

The plane was carrying seven crew members and 217 passengers, including 25 children.