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Russian plane crash: PM says flying Britons home will take time Russian plane crash: Flying Britons home from Sharm el-Sheikh 'will take time'
(35 minutes later)
It could be "some time" before all UK tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh are home but it is vital to ensure their safety, the prime minister has said, after the suspension of flights. It could be "some time" before all British tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh are home, the prime minister has said, as he defended the suspension of air links as "vital" to ensure safety.
David Cameron said it was "increasingly likely" a "terrorist bomb" caused a Russian passenger jet to crash on Saturday killing all 224 people on board. David Cameron said it was "increasingly likely" a "terrorist bomb" caused a Russian passenger jet to crash killing all 224 people on board on Saturday.
The Foreign Office said its security experts were working to resume flights between the UK and the Egyptian resort. UK security experts are working with local authorities to get Britons home.
BA says services will run on Friday. Monarch airlines says three "rescue flights" will operate on Friday.
About 20,000 Britons are said to be in the resort, including 1,000 residents. The airline said the flights would be in addition to its two scheduled flights. British Airways, meanwhile, confirmed it would be operating two flights.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra, Mr Cameron said: "The decisions that I'm taking are about putting the safety of British people first. About 20,000 Britons are estimated to be in the Red Sea resort, including 1,000 residents.
"What we need to put in place is more security at that airport so it is safe to fly people home.... I act on the intelligence. I act on the advice of experts." UK-Sharm el-Sheikh flights grounded: Live coverage
It comes as Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, is in the UK for talks with Mr Cameron. Your travel questions answered
UK-Sharm flights grounded: Live coverage Four theories about the Russian plane crash
Four theories about the plane crash
In other latest developments:In other latest developments:
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there were 19 flights scheduled for Britain on Thursday, but none would now depart. Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee Cobra, Mr Cameron said: "The decisions that I'm taking are about putting the safety of British people first.
"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. "What we need to put in place is more security at that airport so it is safe to fly people home...
"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." "There is still an investigation taking pace in Egypt. We need to see the results of that investigation. The reason we have acted before that is because of intelligence and information we had that gave us the concern that it was more likely than not a terrorist bomb."
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 Cameron is holding talks at Downing Street with Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who arrived in the UK on Wednesday for a visit
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. Transport Secretary Patrick McLaughlin told the Commons the UK would need to be confident security standards "meet our expectations and those of the public before we allow services to resume".
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. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said there were 19 flights scheduled for Britain on Thursday, but none would depart.
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. He said: "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."
Egypt has criticised the UK decision, accusing the government of making "a premature and unwarranted statement" on the crash. Mr Hammond said measures included additional baggage screening and searching, but the UK would work with Egyptian authorities to look at a long-term plan.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the comments suggest the UK intelligence that prompted its decision did not come from the scene of the crash or from the Egyptian authorities.
'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".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: 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.
After a 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.
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.
Egypt has criticised the UK decision, accusing the government of making "a premature and unwarranted statement" on the crash.
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 said holidaymakers there - and those due to travel - 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."
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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