Russian airliner not struck from outside: investigator

US authorities are not part of this investigation, but defense officials have told ABC News that flashes were picked up by satellite infrared sensors around the same time that the plane was passing over the Sinai Peninsula, but these could have been unrelated to the aircraft in question.

Islamist militants in Sinai are not thought to have the military hardware that would enable them to bring down a plane at 30,000 feet, the altitude the Airbus 321 was flying at before it was hit.

The Russian airline, Kogalymavia, has blamed “external activity” for the crash. Company officials told reporters in Moscow on Monday that the crash did not result from pilot error or technical problems with the aircraft.

Earnest noted the White House is aware of claims of responsibility for the crash by Islamic State terrorists.

“When there is propaganda that it crashed because of ISIS, this is one way to damage the stability and security of Egypt and the image of Egypt”, el-Sisi said.

A Russian government plane brought home bodies of 140 passengers, landing at St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport early on Monday.

Аsked about the ability of Islamic State militants to shoot down an airliner, Clapper replied, “It’s unlikely, but I wouldn’t rule it out”.

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

Terrorism still hasn’t been ruled out by officials.

Egypt’s aviation ministry said Tuesday there was no proof the plane broke up while in midair and that no distress call was received from the pilot before the crash.

The probe could last several weeks or months if the recordings in the black boxes have been damaged, sources said.

“We don t have any direct evidence of any terrorist involvement yet”, he said.

The Egyptian committee investigating the Metrojet plane crash is expected to finish fieldwork on Tuesday evening, Egyptian Civil Aviation Minister Hossam Kamel said in a news statement Tuesday.

Confusion remains over what caused the flight to break up in mid-air and scattering debris across the remote region of Egypt. Possible causes being investigated include a mechanical issue with the plane, an explosion onboard or external force like a missile.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the crash as an “enormous tragedy” and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Co-pilot’s Sergei Trukachev wife, Natalya Trukhacheva, admitted to the Russian controlled NTV that her husband believed the aircraft’s technical conditions needed to improve.