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British Sharm el-Sheikh flight in 'missile' incident British Sharm el-Sheikh flight in 'missile' incident
(about 1 hour later)
A UK plane had to take evasive action over Egypt in an incident reportedly involving a missile in August.A UK plane had to take evasive action over Egypt in an incident reportedly involving a missile in August.
The Daily Mail says a missile passed a Thomson Airways London to Sharm el-Sheikh flight carrying 189 passengers.The Daily Mail says a missile passed a Thomson Airways London to Sharm el-Sheikh flight carrying 189 passengers.
The British government investigated and concluded the incident had been linked to routine activity by the Egyptian military was not a "targeted attack". The British government investigated and concluded the incident was linked to routine Egyptian military activity and was not a "targeted attack".
Meanwhile Britons are continuing to return home from Sharm el-Sheikh after last week's Russian plane crash.Meanwhile Britons are continuing to return home from Sharm el-Sheikh after last week's Russian plane crash.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said 1,400 people had arrived back in the UK on eight flights on Friday after UK-bound planes were halted on Wednesday amid fears the passenger plane was brought down by a bomb. The government said it expected about 3,000 people to have come back by the end of Saturday, after UK-bound planes were halted on Wednesday amid fears the passenger plane was brought down by a bomb.
The first flight to the UK from Egypt for Saturday has now departed, with more expected later. A spokesman said: "It is important that people stay at their resort until they have confirmation from their airline or tour operator that they are on a flight back to the UK and that they follow their airline's advice on the appropriate arrival time at the airport.
The Thomas Cook flight left Sharm el-Sheikh shortly before 15:00 GMT with 220 passengers on board bound for Gatwick. "Any British nationals requiring assistance, over and above that being provided by their airline and tour operators, can call the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 020 7008 0000."
Two flights to the UK from Egypt on Saturday have now departed, with more expected later.
A Thomas Cook flight left Sharm el-Sheikh shortly before 15:00 GMT with 220 passengers on board bound for Gatwick. A Thomson flight is expected at Bristol at 22:20 GMT.
'Full story''Full story'
The government has confirmed an investigation into the reported missile incident was carried out by the Department for Transport.The government has confirmed an investigation into the reported missile incident was carried out by the Department for Transport.
Aviation security experts told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner it had involved artillery practice by the Egyptian army.Aviation security experts told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner it had involved artillery practice by the Egyptian army.
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According to the Daily Mail, the plane was forced to manoeuvre away from a rocket as it flew into Sharm el-Sheikh.According to the Daily Mail, the plane was forced to manoeuvre away from a rocket as it flew into Sharm el-Sheikh.
Thomson has confirmed "an event" was reported by the crew of flight TOM 476 on 23 August 2015 and was reported to the UK Department for Transport.Thomson has confirmed "an event" was reported by the crew of flight TOM 476 on 23 August 2015 and was reported to the UK Department for Transport.
A spokesman said: "The DfT conducted a full investigation in conjunction with other UK government experts. After reviewing the details of the case, the investigation concluded that there was no cause for concern and it was safe to continue our flying programme to Sharm-el Sheikh."A spokesman said: "The DfT conducted a full investigation in conjunction with other UK government experts. After reviewing the details of the case, the investigation concluded that there was no cause for concern and it was safe to continue our flying programme to Sharm-el Sheikh."
Speaking on the BBC's Today programme aviation expert Alastair Rosenschein described the incident as "quite extraordinary".Speaking on the BBC's Today programme aviation expert Alastair Rosenschein described the incident as "quite extraordinary".
He said: "I'm not sure that I buy the fact that it was a military exercise and that a missile passed to within a 1,000ft of an aircraft that was presumably on the correct flight path on the approach to land at Sharm el-Sheikh. It most certainly does not happen. I suspect that this is not the full story."He said: "I'm not sure that I buy the fact that it was a military exercise and that a missile passed to within a 1,000ft of an aircraft that was presumably on the correct flight path on the approach to land at Sharm el-Sheikh. It most certainly does not happen. I suspect that this is not the full story."
An estimated 19,000 British nationals are thought to be stranded in the Egyptian resort after the the UK suspended all flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday amid fears that last weekend's Russian crash had been caused by a bomb. An estimated 19,000 British nationals are thought to be stranded in the Egyptian resort after the the UK suspended all flights between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday.
Flights restarted on Friday with increased security measures but only eight of the 29 scheduled flights were able to depart. The remaining 21 were cancelled by the Egyptian authorities because of the build up of passengers and luggage.Flights restarted on Friday with increased security measures but only eight of the 29 scheduled flights were able to depart. The remaining 21 were cancelled by the Egyptian authorities because of the build up of passengers and luggage.
The UK's ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, told the BBC: "We have got good co-operation now which will allow us to get people home as soon as possible. Let us remember this has always been about making sure that when people go home they go home safely."The UK's ambassador to Egypt, John Casson, told the BBC: "We have got good co-operation now which will allow us to get people home as soon as possible. Let us remember this has always been about making sure that when people go home they go home safely."
Britons are being allowed to travel home only with hand baggage; hold luggage is to be flown back separately.Britons are being allowed to travel home only with hand baggage; hold luggage is to be flown back separately.
EasyJet, Monarch, Thomson, Thomas Cook and British Airways have scheduled UK-bound flights from the resort from mid-afternoon local time on Saturday.EasyJet, Monarch, Thomson, Thomas Cook and British Airways have scheduled UK-bound flights from the resort from mid-afternoon local time on Saturday.
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.
Scheduled flights for Saturday afternoon are:Scheduled flights for Saturday afternoon are:
The Russian jet - an Airbus A321, operated by Russian airline Metrojet - was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it came down in Sinai last Saturday, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims were Russian.The Russian jet - an Airbus A321, operated by Russian airline Metrojet - was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it came down in Sinai last Saturday, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims were Russian.
French aviation officials have told the BBC the crash was not caused by technical failures, and other French officials said the flight data recorder suggested a "violent, sudden" explosion.French aviation officials have told the BBC the crash was not caused by technical failures, and other French officials said the flight data recorder suggested a "violent, sudden" explosion.
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 belowOr use the form below