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| Russian plane crash: First flights return to UK after Sharm alert | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Planes have begun bringing back UK tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh - but Egypt says only eight of 29 flights planned for Friday will operate. | Planes have begun bringing back UK tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh - but Egypt says only eight of 29 flights planned for Friday will operate. |
| UK flights were halted on Wednesday amid fears that a Russian plane crash last week was caused by a bomb. | UK flights were halted on Wednesday amid fears that a Russian plane crash last week was caused by a bomb. |
| Two Easyjet flights which left Egypt earlier have landed in Britain. | Two Easyjet flights which left Egypt earlier have landed in Britain. |
| Egypt said there was too much luggage at the airport as UK passengers are only allowed to take hand baggage - hold luggage will be taken separately. | Egypt said there was too much luggage at the airport as UK passengers are only allowed to take hand baggage - hold luggage will be taken separately. |
| The Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 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. | The Russian Metrojet Airbus A321 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. |
| UK investigators believe terrorism is the most likely cause of the disaster, and that a bomb may have been put in the hold before take-off. They have cited intelligence believed to be based on intercepted communications between militants in the Sinai. | UK investigators believe terrorism is the most likely cause of the disaster, and that a bomb may have been put in the hold before take-off. They have cited intelligence believed to be based on intercepted communications between militants in the Sinai. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that all Russian passenger flights to Egypt be stopped until the cause of the crash is established. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered that all Russian passenger flights to Egypt be stopped until the cause of the crash is established. |
| Britons speak of Sharm el-Sheikh 'tension' | Britons speak of Sharm el-Sheikh 'tension' |
| Could IS have bombed Flight 9268? | Could IS have bombed Flight 9268? |
| How has airport security changed? | How has airport security changed? |
| Airlines said there were changes to their original flight plans: | Airlines said there were changes to their original flight plans: |
| Hossam Kamal, Egypt's civil aviation minister, said the decision to restrict luggage on UK flights had forced the authorities to reduce the number operating because the airport could not accommodate more than 120 tonnes of check-in baggage left behind. | Hossam Kamal, Egypt's civil aviation minister, said the decision to restrict luggage on UK flights had forced the authorities to reduce the number operating because the airport could not accommodate more than 120 tonnes of check-in baggage left behind. |
| A COBR (Cabinet Office Briefing Room) meeting of security officials met earlier to review the situation in Egypt. | A COBR (Cabinet Office Briefing Room) meeting of security officials met earlier to review the situation in Egypt. |
| After the meeting a spokesman said: "This is a hugely complex operation. We continue to work closely with both the Egyptian authorities and the airline carriers to get people safely home as quickly as possible. But the sheer scale of the task poses a number of logistical complexities. | After the meeting a spokesman said: "This is a hugely complex operation. We continue to work closely with both the Egyptian authorities and the airline carriers to get people safely home as quickly as possible. But the sheer scale of the task poses a number of logistical complexities. |
| "We are working with airlines to ensure passengers get the message not to make the journey to Sharm airport until airlines have absolute confirmation that they will be able to travel." | "We are working with airlines to ensure passengers get the message not to make the journey to Sharm airport until airlines have absolute confirmation that they will be able to travel." |
| Easyjet and Thomas Cook said it would cover the costs of additional accommodation and reasonable expenses for anyone affected by the disruption. | Easyjet and Thomas Cook said it would cover the costs of additional accommodation and reasonable expenses for anyone affected by the disruption. |
| Passengers' stories | Passengers' stories |
| Leon Chlon, from Cambridge, was a passenger on the first Easyjet flight to arrive in the UK. | Leon Chlon, from Cambridge, was a passenger on the first Easyjet flight to arrive in the UK. |
| He said: "The last few days have actually been quite precarious in terms of the information we have been receiving. I have just been spending time with my father. He had a heart attack last Friday. | He said: "The last few days have actually been quite precarious in terms of the information we have been receiving. I have just been spending time with my father. He had a heart attack last Friday. |
| "It was an extremely stressful situation for him since he lives there, and he is scared about the situation and whether it will deteriorate. I'm very, very glad to be home." | "It was an extremely stressful situation for him since he lives there, and he is scared about the situation and whether it will deteriorate. I'm very, very glad to be home." |
| Nathan Hazelwood, from Kent, said as he arrived at Gatwick: "We are happy to be back. The British government was good; they did right, if I'm honest. | Nathan Hazelwood, from Kent, said as he arrived at Gatwick: "We are happy to be back. The British government was good; they did right, if I'm honest. |
| "The airlines, the embassy and the Egyptian airport security and staff were absolutely useless, and non-existent almost. They made it a bit worse than it needed to be." | "The airlines, the embassy and the Egyptian airport security and staff were absolutely useless, and non-existent almost. They made it a bit worse than it needed to be." |
| Nicky Bull, from Bath, said the pilot told them MI5 officers guarded their plane before they set off - and the pilot received a round of applause as they landed in the UK. | Nicky Bull, from Bath, said the pilot told them MI5 officers guarded their plane before they set off - and the pilot received a round of applause as they landed in the UK. |
| "We felt as though we were on our own. We all got together really. There was a lot of camaraderie. At the airport today it was absolutely dreadful. | "We felt as though we were on our own. We all got together really. There was a lot of camaraderie. At the airport today it was absolutely dreadful. |
| "I appreciate all the extra security but they just couldn't cope with it. We had a situation where we were going to final security with all the glass doors and only two of them were open. Everybody was getting crushed." | "I appreciate all the extra security but they just couldn't cope with it. We had a situation where we were going to final security with all the glass doors and only two of them were open. Everybody was getting crushed." |
| Passengers have been advised to only bring essential items such as passports, car and house keys, money, medicines, and mobile phones. | Passengers have been advised to only bring essential items such as passports, car and house keys, money, medicines, and mobile phones. |
| Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said UK security officials were at the airport monitoring the baggage screening process. | Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said UK security officials were at the airport monitoring the baggage screening process. |
| He said the government was making arrangements to ensure the luggage would be returned to passengers in a week to 10 days. | He said the government was making arrangements to ensure the luggage would be returned to passengers in a week to 10 days. |
| Are you due to return from Sharm el-Sheikh to the UK today? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you due to return from Sharm el-Sheikh to the UK today? If you have any information to share with the BBC, you can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |