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| Russian plane crash: Some flights halted as Britons leave Egypt | Russian plane crash: Some flights halted as Britons leave Egypt |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Planes have begun bringing British tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh back to the UK - but only eight out of 29 planned flights will fly. | Planes have begun bringing British tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh back to the UK - but only eight out of 29 planned flights will fly. |
| Two Easyjet planes took off from the Egyptian resort, but it is unclear which others will be able to operate. | Two Easyjet planes took off from the Egyptian resort, but it is unclear which others will be able to operate. |
| Egypt said this was because there was too much luggage at the airport. British passengers are allowed to take only hand baggage on board. | |
| This follows fears that a Russian plane was brought down by a bomb in its hold. | |
| The Metrojet Airbus A321 aircraft was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg on Saturday when it crashed in the Sinai desert, killing all 224 people on board. | |
| UK investigators believe a bomb was 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. | |
| The UK government cancelled flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday. Flights from the resort have since been permitted to return stranded passengers, but as a security measure, only hand luggage is being allowed on board, with hold baggage being transported later. | |
| 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? |
| The first Easyjet flight left shortly before 13:00 local time for Gatwick, with the second heading for Luton an hour later. | The first Easyjet flight left shortly before 13:00 local time for Gatwick, with the second heading for Luton an hour later. |
| Passengers on the flights that were disrupted have described being sent back through security and told to return to their hotels. | Passengers on the flights that were disrupted have described being sent back through security and told to return to their hotels. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said it was "important all airlines give accurate information" to passengers. | A Downing Street spokesman said it was "important all airlines give accurate information" to passengers. |
| A government spokesman added there "was no guarantee that everyone who should have returned by Friday will have returned by tonight", despite earlier suggestions that this might be possible. | A government spokesman added there "was no guarantee that everyone who should have returned by Friday will have returned by tonight", despite earlier suggestions that this might be possible. |
| He said the situation was "complex and fluid" and matters had been complicated by a broken down plane at the airport. | He said the situation was "complex and fluid" and matters had been complicated by a broken down plane at the airport. |
| In a statement on its website, Easyjet said it would cover the costs of additional accommodation and reasonable expenses for anyone affected by the disruption. | In a statement on its website, Easyjet said it would cover the costs of additional accommodation and reasonable expenses for anyone affected by the disruption. |
| It added: "We are working with the UK government at the highest level on a solution. In the meantime we are also developing a contingency plan so we can bring our customers home as early as possible, once we get permission to fly." | It added: "We are working with the UK government at the highest level on a solution. In the meantime we are also developing a contingency plan so we can bring our customers home as early as possible, once we get permission to fly." |
| 'Get us home safely' | 'Get us home safely' |
| Tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh described how they were feeling about the situation. | Tourists stranded in Sharm el-Sheikh described how they were feeling about the situation. |
| Paul Milton is part of a group of 10 travellers. He said: "We just need to wait it out. We have got total faith in the British government. The main thing is getting home safe." | Paul Milton is part of a group of 10 travellers. He said: "We just need to wait it out. We have got total faith in the British government. The main thing is getting home safe." |
| Tahir Zarif described scenes of confusion: "Thompson unloaded a full coach an hour ago and have moved everyone back into the hotel. Apparently there are around 1,500 people waiting to get into the airport," he said. | Tahir Zarif described scenes of confusion: "Thompson unloaded a full coach an hour ago and have moved everyone back into the hotel. Apparently there are around 1,500 people waiting to get into the airport," he said. |
| Lauryn Mudzimu, 35, from west London, is due to fly home on 14 November. She said people who were supposed to be flying on the same dates have already left their hotels and made their way to the airport. | Lauryn Mudzimu, 35, from west London, is due to fly home on 14 November. She said people who were supposed to be flying on the same dates have already left their hotels and made their way to the airport. |
| "The announcement by the government has caused a panic among almost all the British tourists here," she said. "Some people are due to leave on the 12th, but they have gone to the airport. A lot of people have checked out and left their hotels. They were in a panic, saying they have to go." | "The announcement by the government has caused a panic among almost all the British tourists here," she said. "Some people are due to leave on the 12th, but they have gone to the airport. A lot of people have checked out and left their hotels. They were in a panic, saying they have to go." |
| Kevin Murphy, 28, from Newcastle, is visiting Sharm el-Sheikh with his girlfriend. He said: "We were due to be flying back on Monday with Thomas Cook but we keep hearing different stories. | Kevin Murphy, 28, from Newcastle, is visiting Sharm el-Sheikh with his girlfriend. He said: "We were due to be flying back on Monday with Thomas Cook but we keep hearing different stories. |
| "We have been told we could be flying earlier, that it could be today [Friday], but the reps have told us we should be flying as normal." | "We have been told we could be flying earlier, that it could be today [Friday], but the reps have told us we should be flying as normal." |
| 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. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent | By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent |
| The speed with which the British government pointed to terrorism as the possible cause of the downing of the Russian Airbus over the Sinai Peninsula has not gone down well in either Cairo or Moscow. | The speed with which the British government pointed to terrorism as the possible cause of the downing of the Russian Airbus over the Sinai Peninsula has not gone down well in either Cairo or Moscow. |
| For the Egyptians the stakes are obvious: Sharm el-Sheikh and the wider tourism industry are a crucial element of its economy. | For the Egyptians the stakes are obvious: Sharm el-Sheikh and the wider tourism industry are a crucial element of its economy. |
| This episode has punctured the long-held Egyptian narrative that Sharm el-Sheikh, its airport and resort hotels are insulated from the wider chaos in the Sinai. | This episode has punctured the long-held Egyptian narrative that Sharm el-Sheikh, its airport and resort hotels are insulated from the wider chaos in the Sinai. |
| For the Russians, an attack linked to so-called Islamic State is also problematic. | For the Russians, an attack linked to so-called Islamic State is also problematic. |
| IS is the declared target of its air operations in Syria, but in reality Russian warplanes have largely been striking other rebel groups. IS may now find itself in Russia's sights. | IS is the declared target of its air operations in Syria, but in reality Russian warplanes have largely been striking other rebel groups. IS may now find itself in Russia's sights. |
| But if IS did bring down the airliner this could exacerbate concerns amongst Russian public opinion that their country's engagement in Syria is provoking some unpleasant blow-back. | But if IS did bring down the airliner this could exacerbate concerns amongst Russian public opinion that their country's engagement in Syria is provoking some unpleasant blow-back. |
| 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 |