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Sinai plane crash: Britons stranded after flights cancelled Russian plane crash: UK working to resume Sharm flights
(35 minutes later)
The government is working with airlines to bring thousands of Britons home from the Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh after it suspended flights to the UK. The Foreign Office says it is working to resume flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, after they were suspended amid security fears.
All flights were grounded after US and UK intelligence suggested a bomb may have caused a Russian jet from Sharm to crash killing all 224 people on board. All planes were grounded, stranding thousands of Britons, after intelligence suggested a bomb may have caused a Russian jet to crash killing all 224 people on board.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said security would be tightened and it is hoped flights will resume on Friday. The UK is helping with security and it is hoped flights will resume on Friday.
The UK government's emergency committee Cobra is to meet later. About 20,000 Britons are said to be in the resort, including 1,000 residents.
The decision to suspend flights came as the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, arrived in the UK for talks with Prime Minister David Cameron.The decision to suspend flights came as the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, arrived in the UK for talks with Prime Minister David Cameron.
UK-Sharm flights grounded: Live coverageUK-Sharm flights grounded: Live coverage
Four theories about the plane crashFour theories about the plane crash
Mr Hammond said there were 19 flights scheduled for Britain from Sharm on Thursday, but none would depart. Mr Hammond said there were 19 flights scheduled for Britain on Thursday, but none would depart.
"But the airlines are telling us that they expect by tomorrow they'll be in a position to start flying those British visitors back to the UK," he said. "The airlines are telling us that they expect by tomorrow they'll be in a position to start flying those British visitors back to the UK," he added.
"We're spending today with the airlines, with the Egyptian authorities, putting in place short-term emergency measures that will allow us to screen everything going on to those planes, double-check those planes, so that we can be confident that they can fly back safely to the UK.""We're spending today with the airlines, with the Egyptian authorities, putting in place short-term emergency measures that will allow us to screen everything going on to those planes, double-check those planes, so that we can be confident that they can fly back safely to the UK."
In other developments: In other latest developments:
Mr Hammond said short-term security measures included additional levels of baggage screening and searching, but the UK would be working with the Egyptian authorities to look at long-term solutions to "allow the resumption of normal air activity".
He also predicted more countries would suspend flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh.
UK aviation experts had been sent to Sharm el-Sheikh to assess the security situation after the Metrojet Airbus 321, bound for St Petersburg, came down in the Sinai desert on Saturday.UK aviation experts had been sent to Sharm el-Sheikh to assess the security situation after the Metrojet Airbus 321, bound for St Petersburg, came down in the Sinai desert on Saturday.
Their findings were considered in a one-hour Cobra meeting on Wednesday evening, chaired by Mr Cameron.Their findings were considered in a one-hour Cobra meeting on Wednesday evening, chaired by Mr Cameron.
Mr Hammond said: "We have concluded there was a significant possibility that that crash was caused by an explosive device on board the aircraft." Mr Hammond said there was a "significant possibility" the crash was caused by an explosive device on board the aircraft.
The UK government was "very reluctantly" advising against all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport, he said.The UK government was "very reluctantly" advising against all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport, he said.
A number of travel operators responded to the announcement:A number of travel operators responded to the announcement:
Mr Hammond stressed the Foreign Office was not changing the travel advice with regard to the Sharm el-Sheikh resort itself, which it views as safe.Mr Hammond stressed the Foreign Office was not changing the travel advice with regard to the Sharm el-Sheikh resort itself, which it views as safe.
The Association of British Travel Agents estimates at least 9,000 of the 20,000 Britons currently in Sharm are holidaymakers.The Association of British Travel Agents estimates at least 9,000 of the 20,000 Britons currently in Sharm are holidaymakers.
An Abta spokeswoman said holidaymakers in Sharm and people due to travel to the resort are advised to contact their travel company.An Abta spokeswoman said holidaymakers in Sharm and people due to travel to the resort are advised to contact their travel company.
"Most insurance policies will still provide cover for holidaymakers in a country at the time of Foreign Office advice change," she added."Most insurance policies will still provide cover for holidaymakers in a country at the time of Foreign Office advice change," she added.
"Those people with bookings beyond this are advised to wait until closer to the departure date to contact their travel company as the situation is reviewed.""Those people with bookings beyond this are advised to wait until closer to the departure date to contact their travel company as the situation is reviewed."
Egypt's foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, said he was very disappointed by the decision to suspend flights, accusing the UK government of making "a premature and unwarranted statement" on the crash.Egypt's foreign minister, Sameh Shoukry, said he was very disappointed by the decision to suspend flights, accusing the UK government of making "a premature and unwarranted statement" on the crash.
Egypt has dismissed claims by militants linked to the Islamic State group that they brought down the plane while Russian experts say it is too early to reach a conclusion.Egypt has dismissed claims by militants linked to the Islamic State group that they brought down the plane while Russian experts say it is too early to reach a conclusion.
Mr Hammond apologised for the "immense disruption and inconvenience" caused by the decision but said the safety and security of British nationals had to be "above all other considerations".
He said the UK would be working with the Egyptian authorities and airlines to help put long term sustainable security measures in place.
Are you in Sharm el-Sheikh? Are you planning to travel to the Sinai region from the UK? Are you affected? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in Sharm el-Sheikh? Are you planning to travel to the Sinai region from the UK? Are you affected? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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