Cairo accepts participation of US specialists in Russian plane crash investigation

Egypt has accepted the application of US specialists to participate in the investigation of the Russian plane crash in Sinai, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said.

On Monday, the US side offered its assistance in the investigation of the A321 crash to both Moscow and Egypt.

“Egypt has already accepted the application of American investigators that are associated with the manufacturers of the engine to become part of the investigative team, and they are free to incorporate any advisers they deem as necessary for them to undertake the responsibility,” Shoukry told CNN in an interview on Tuesday.

CNN reported, citing a source with knowledge of the investigation, that US National Transportation Safety Board, a body responsible for civil transportation accident investigations, received word from Cairo that its offer to assist was accepted.

On 31 October, an Airbus A321 operated by the Russian airline Kogalymavia crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula. All 224 people on board were killed. The crash has become the largest civil aviation disaster in Russian and Soviet history.