Russian experts finish report on Egyptian airport security

A Russian team, aided by Egyptian counterparts, has completed an audit of flight safety in Egypt following a Russian airliner crash over Sinai on 31 October, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said.

Dvorkovich told Russia’s TASS news agency on Thursday he couldn’t reveal the results of the report as they “relate to another state’s security system.”

The report may help Russia determine whether to resume air services between Egypt and Russia, the deputy prime minister said.

Flights between the two countries were suspended in mid-November after a Russian passenger jet flying to St Petersburg from Sharm El-Sheikh crashed in Sinai, killing all 224 passengers on board. Russia followed several other countries, including the UK, in concluding that the plane had been downed by a bomb.

North Sinai based-militant group Ansar Beit El-Maqdis claimed responsibility for the plane crash. The group has pledged allegiance to Islamic State group in recent months.

The official investigation into the crash, which is headed by Egypt, is still ongoing, and no results have yet been announced.

source: Ahram Online