Bomb likely downed flight 9268: investigator

A memorial has been held in Russia for the 224 people killed when a passenger plane crashed in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula more than a week ago.

Bomb likely downed flight 9268: investigatorBomb likely downed flight 9268: investigator

Bomb likely downed flight 9268: investigator

Authorities investigating the aviation disaster say it is increasingly looking likely a bomb brought the plane down.

It was a sombre, emotional farewell in one of the Christian world's largest cathedrals.

Mourners gathered in large numbers at St Isaacs Cathedral in St Petersburg for the victims of the Metrojet flight that crashed in Egypt.

A bell atop the Cathedral tolled 224 times at the culmination of the service, once for each person killed.

Russian Orthodox tradition demands a memorial service to the dead is held on the ninth day.

It's been more than a week since flight 9268 crashed in the Sinai Peninsula, and a conclusive explanation as to what caused the disaster remains elusive.

However, signs are increasingly pointing towards a bomb attack.

Media reports say a member of the Egyptian investigation said a noise heard in the final second of a cockpit recording indicates an explosion caused by a bomb.

A group affiliated with the self-proclaimed Islamic State, or IS, has claimed it caused the crash as revenge for Russia's air campaign in Syria; a claim Egypt has tried to downplay.

British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond says tougher airport security measures will need to be implemented if IS is responsible.

 

"If this turns out to be a device planted by an ISIL operative, or somebody inspired by ISIL, then clearly we will have to look again at the level of security we expect to see in airports where ISIL is active."

 

In Russia, people are reflecting the multiple theories posited so far.

 

"We can only judge by what we are being told, if you want to know what I think: if it was ISIL (I-S) I think that theory has the right to exist."

"I think it is the plane that is to blame, it is a technical error."

"There have been many versions. From what we were officially told, I'm inclined to think it was an explosive on board."

 

Russia's government says people should not jump to conclusions, however it seems it also believes the worst.

All Russian flights to Egypt were suspended late last week, said to be as a precaution.

The airport at Sharm el-Sheikh is struggling to cope with the volume of people leaving.

The President of the Emirates airline, Tim Clark, says he believes the tragedy will substantially change aviation in the region.

 

"What happened in Sharm el-Sheikh last week, to an extent what happened to the Eurowings aircraft, these are game-changers for our industry. They have to be addressed at industry level, because no doubt the countries - United States, Europeans - are going to, as a result of what happened more recently, make some I would think some fairly stringent, draconian demands on the way aviation goes about its security."

 






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