Sharm el-Sheikh crash: Russian Metrojet A321, flight 7K9268 black box

The announcement follows an earlier statement by the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Alexander Bortnikov, following a meeting with the National Anti-Terrorism Committee in which he advised Russian Federation to suspend all flights to Egypt until further information became known on the causes of the Sinai plane crash, the report said.

Scots holidaymakers stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh have arrived back in Glasgow.

Muqaddam said the crash occurred 23 minutes into the flight, when the auto-pilot was still engaged, and debris were scattered over a wide area extending for 13 km (8 miles) “which is consistent with an in-flight break-up”.

The officials said authorities were questioning airport staff and ground crew who worked on the Russian flight and had placed a few employees under surveillance.

The Kremlin’s decision to suspend flights is bad news all around. “Flights are coming in which will allow us to take more people home today”, Casson said in Sharm al-Sheikh as he tried to reassure exasperated tourists at the airport.

After the United Kingdom suspended its flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh, Prime Minister David Cameron said it was “more likely than not” that the cause was a bomb.

Egyptian authorities say a bomb is the most plausible reason for last weekend’s deadly Russian jet crash after takeoff from Egypt’s Sharm el Sheikh Airport, as Russia decides to halt all flights to Egypt. Both countries said the diagnosis was premature since an investigation was ongoing.

The move will affect tens of thousands of Russians and is expected to have a devastating effect on Egyptian tourism. Russian Federation was also angered because of its involvement in the Syrian civil war, in which it is carrying out airstrikes on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad against rebel group, including the Islamic State.

He added that 29 Friday flights were scheduled to fly to Britain.

“Those who come to Egypt to enjoy their time; those who we are very happy to receive in our country”, Sisi said during a press conference with Cameron.

The BBC understands that United Kingdom officials received intelligence based on intercepted communications between militants in the Sinai Peninsula, indicating an explosive device may have been put inside or on top of the luggage just before the plane took off.