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Russian plane crash: UK working to resume Sharm el-Sheikh flights Russian plane crash: UK working to resume Sharm el-Sheikh flights
(about 1 hour later)
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.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, stranding thousands of Britons, after intelligence suggested a bomb may have caused a Russian jet to crash killing all 224 people on board. All flights 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 on Saturday.
The UK is helping with security and it is hoped flights will resume on Friday.The UK is helping with security and it is hoped flights will resume on Friday.
About 20,000 Britons are said to be in the resort, including 1,000 residents.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
In other latest developments:
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there were 19 flights scheduled for Britain on Thursday, but none would now depart.Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there were 19 flights scheduled for Britain on Thursday, but none would now depart.
"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."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 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 a more sustainable plan.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 a more sustainable plan.
He also predicted more countries would suspend flights.
UK aviation experts had been sent to Sharm el-Sheikh to assess the security situation after the plane, 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 plane, 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. After an emergency Cobra meeting on Wednesday evening Mr Hammond said there was a "significant possibility" the 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. It came after a US official told the Associated Press news agency they had reached the "tentative conclusion", after intercepting communications, that an affiliate of the Islamic State group in the Sinai peninsula had planted an explosive device.
Meanwhile, a US official told the Associated Press news agency they had reached the "tentative conclusion", after intercepting communications, that an affiliate of the Islamic State group in the Sinai peninsula had planted an explosive device.
'No information''No information'
Sarah Cotterill was about to board an Easyjet plane to the UK on Wednesday when news of the flight suspensions emerged.Sarah Cotterill was about to board an Easyjet plane to the UK on Wednesday when news of the flight suspensions emerged.
She told the BBC: "After spending about three hours at the airport we've been bussed back to our hotel, and that's where we are at the moment.She told the BBC: "After spending about three hours at the airport we've been bussed back to our hotel, and that's where we are at the moment.
"At the airport we had practically no information, and there was a few members of the Egyptian staff at the airport trying to tell us what they knew, but that was practically nothing."At the airport we had practically no information, and there was a few members of the Egyptian staff at the airport trying to tell us what they knew, but that was practically nothing.
"Just as we were leaving, some embassy staff turned up and they travelled with us to the hotel.""Just as we were leaving, some embassy staff turned up and they travelled with us to the hotel."
Another stranded Briton, Paul Modley, from London, is a frequent traveller to Sharm el-Sheikh. He said he understood the reason behind the government action but was "really worried for the Egyptian people because - particularly in the Red Sea resorts - they are so dependent on tourism".
Tony Lesser, a Briton who flew back from Sharm el-Sheikh last week, said he had seen local people walking through airport security checks unchallenged and suggested the system for scanning and searching luggage seemed very lax.Tony Lesser, a Briton who flew back from Sharm el-Sheikh last week, said he had seen local people walking through airport security checks unchallenged and suggested the system for scanning and searching luggage seemed very lax.
But James Monk from Essex, who was on one of the last flights back on Tuesday, said he had noticed security at the airport was very tight even before the crash.But James Monk from Essex, who was on one of the last flights back on Tuesday, said he had noticed security at the airport was very tight even before the crash.
A number of travel operators responded to the UK announcement:A number of travel operators responded to the UK 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 el-Sheikh are holidaymakers.The Association of British Travel Agents estimates at least 9,000 of the 20,000 Britons currently in Sharm el-Sheikh are holidaymakers.
An Abta spokeswoman said holidaymakers there, and people due to travel to the resort, are advised to contact their travel company.An Abta spokeswoman said holidaymakers there, 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 has criticised the decision to suspend flights, accusing the UK government of making "a premature and unwarranted statement" on the crash.Egypt has criticised the decision to suspend flights, accusing the UK government of making "a premature and unwarranted statement" on the crash.
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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