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Russian plane crash: Airlines to begin Sharm el-Sheikh repatriations to UK Russian plane crash: Airlines to begin Sharm el-Sheikh repatriations to UK
(about 1 hour later)
Tight security will be in place as airlines start to bring back Britons from Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday. Tight security will be in place as airlines start to bring home Britons stranded in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh.
Easyjet, Monarch, Thomson and British Airways will all run UK-bound flights, due to start leaving mid-morning. The UK government cancelled flights to and from the resort on Wednesday amid fears a Russian passenger plane had been brought down by a terrorist bomb.
Passengers will only be able to carry hand luggage on board, with hold baggage to be transported separately. Only hand luggage will be allowed on the flights, with hold baggage to be transported separately later.
UK investigators looking at what caused a Russian plane to crash in Egypt believe a bomb was put in the hold before take-off, the BBC has learned. UK investigators believe a bomb was put in the hold of the Metrojet Airbus A321 before take-off, the BBC has learned.
The Metrojet Airbus A321 was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it fell from the sky last Saturday, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims were Russian. The Russian aircraft was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg last Saturday when it crashed in the Sinai desert, killing all 224 people on board.
Thousands of Britons have been stranded after the UK suspended all flights to and from the Red Sea resort on Wednesday. Easyjet, Monarch, Thomson and British Airways will all run UK-bound flights from mid-morning local time for some of the estimated 19,000 British nationals on holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Prime Minister David Cameron says it was now "more likely than not" that a terrorist bomb caused the crash.
Both Egypt and Russia say its too soon reach such a conclusion.
'Rescue flights'
In total, 19 flights are scheduled to leave Sharm el-Sheikh for London Gatwick, London Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and Manchester on Friday.
However, many passengers may still have to wait for flights as airlines catch up with a backlog, said the BBC's Mark Lowen, who is at Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
There will be additional security measures for passengers, put in place by British security officials who have assessed the airport.There will be additional security measures for passengers, put in place by British security officials who have assessed the airport.
Outbound flights from the UK to Sharm el-Sheikh remain suspended and the Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el-Sheikh airport Britons have been arriving at Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin told the BBC that more than 20 flights would be leaving the resort and the "vast majority" of British tourists who "should have come back Wednesday, Thursday and Friday... will be back by tonight".
Your travel questions answered
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'Rescue flights'
In total, 19 flights are scheduled to leave Sharm el-Sheikh for Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Luton, Birmingham and Manchester on Friday.
Outbound flights from the UK to Sharm el-Sheikh remain suspended and the Foreign Office continues to advise against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
British nationals in Sharm el-Sheikh are encouraged to check with their airline or tour operator on their travel plans:British nationals in Sharm el-Sheikh are encouraged to check with their airline or tour operator on their travel plans:
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said hold luggage was "one of the big concerns we had" about security.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that although British officials have not ruled out the possibility of a technical fault bringing the plane down, they think that is increasingly unlikely.BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says that although British officials have not ruled out the possibility of a technical fault bringing the plane down, they think that is increasingly unlikely.
Investigators in the UK's security service suspect someone with access to the aircraft's baggage compartment inserted an explosive device inside or on top of the luggage just before the plane took off, he adds. New intelligence was received on Wednesday after the UK government's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre assessed what caused the plane to come down.
On Thursday, a Downing Street spokesman said there was a meeting of senior officials to review the government's decision to ground flights after the crash. Investigators in the UK's security service suspect someone with access to the aircraft's baggage compartment inserted an explosive device inside or on top of the luggage just before the plane took off, our correspondent adds.
"Our utmost priority is to make sure we have all the right measures in place to ensure that British citizens can return safely to the UK. Prime Minister David Cameron says it was now "more likely than not" that a terrorist bomb caused the crash. But both Egypt and Russia say its too soon reach such a conclusion.
"The prime minister held talks on the situation with [Egyptian] President Sisi earlier and, following further discussions with the airlines and the Egyptians we have agreed on a package of additional security measures that is being put in place rapidly," the spokesman said. On Thursday Mr Cameron, held talks with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in London during a previously scheduled visit.
Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, told reporters that security at the airport was tightened 10 months ago at the UK's request. A Downing Street spokesman said: "Following further discussions with the airlines and the Egyptians we have agreed on a package of additional security measures that is being put in place rapidly."
British experts had then assessed security at Egyptian airports and found the measures were "good enough," President Sisi added. President Sisi, told reporters that security at the airport was tightened 10 months ago at the UK's request. He said British experts had then assessed security at Egyptian airports and found the measures were "good enough".
AnalysisAnalysis
By Nick Hopkins, BBC Newsnight correspondentBy Nick Hopkins, BBC Newsnight correspondent
British officials last year raised concerns with the Egyptian authorities about lax security at the airports in Sharm el-Sheikh and Cairo, BBC Newsnight has learned.British officials last year raised concerns with the Egyptian authorities about lax security at the airports in Sharm el-Sheikh and Cairo, BBC Newsnight has learned.
In particular, the UK was worried about security around baggage handling and access to restricted areas.In particular, the UK was worried about security around baggage handling and access to restricted areas.
At a press conference with David Cameron in London on Thursday, Egypt's President Sisi confirmed a British security team travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh 10 months ago and decreed that the systems there were fine.At a press conference with David Cameron in London on Thursday, Egypt's President Sisi confirmed a British security team travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh 10 months ago and decreed that the systems there were fine.
However, UK officials continued to have doubts and feared that in recent months the situation at the airport "had slipped back", Whitehall sources said.However, UK officials continued to have doubts and feared that in recent months the situation at the airport "had slipped back", Whitehall sources said.
The UK decided to stop British flights in and out of the resort after assessing several different strands of intelligence, including material from GCHQ. It left the prime minister "no choice" but to act immediately, sources said.The UK decided to stop British flights in and out of the resort after assessing several different strands of intelligence, including material from GCHQ. It left the prime minister "no choice" but to act immediately, sources said.
"This analysis was put together by British intelligence and we have now passed the findings to relevant partners," said one official."This analysis was put together by British intelligence and we have now passed the findings to relevant partners," said one official.
Your travel questions answered
Britons speak of Sharm el-Sheikh 'tension'
Could IS have bombed Flight 9268?
Mr Cameron also discussed "joint counter-terrorism" with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone call on Thursday.Mr Cameron also discussed "joint counter-terrorism" with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a telephone call on Thursday.
Mr Putin told the prime minister how important it was that assessments of the possible causes of the crash be based on information from the official investigation, a Kremlin spokesman said.Mr Putin told the prime minister how important it was that assessments of the possible causes of the crash be based on information from the official investigation, a Kremlin spokesman said.
In other developments:
Meanwhile, British holidaymakers stranded in Egypt have spoken of confusion at Sharm el-Sheikh airport.
There are believed to be about 20,000 Britons in the popular resort area.
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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