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British Sharm el-Sheikh flight in 'missile' incident British Sharm el-Sheikh flight in 'missile' incident
(about 3 hours later)
A UK tourist plane carrying 189 people had to take evasive action over Sharm el-Sheikh in August in an incident reportedly involving a missile. A UK passenger plane carrying 189 people had to take evasive action over Sharm el-Sheikh in August to reportedly avoid a missile.
A UK government investigation found the incident was linked to routine military activity and was not a targeted attack. A UK government inquiry concluded the incident was linked to routine military activity and was not a targeted attack.
Egyptian officials say reports of a missile passing the Thomson Airways jet are inaccurate and it was not at risk. But Egyptian officials say reports of a missile passing the Thomson Airways jet are inaccurate and it was not at risk.
Meanwhile, EasyJet says Britons still in Egypt after last week's plane crash could face a four-day wait to fly home.Meanwhile, EasyJet says Britons still in Egypt after last week's plane crash could face a four-day wait to fly home.
All UK-bound planes from Sharm el-Sheikh were halted on Wednesday amid fears the Russian Metrojet passenger plane which crashed on 31 October killing all 224 on board had been brought down by a bomb. A Russian plane - an Airbus A321 operated by Russian airline Metrojet - was flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to St Petersburg when it came down in Sinai on 31 October, killing all 224 people on board. Most of the victims were Russian.
Flights restarted on Friday with increased security measures and have been continuing on Saturday - but thousands of people remain stranded in the resort. All UK-bound planes from Sharm el-Sheikh were halted on Wednesday amid fears the passenger plane had been brought down by a bomb.
Flights restarted on Friday with increased security measures and continued on Saturday.
About 3,300 tourists have returned so far to the UK, but thousands of people remain stranded in the resort.
'Artillery practice''Artillery practice'
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.
According to the Daily Mail, the plane was forced to manoeuvre away from a rocket as it flew into Sharm el-Sheikh, but Egypt's foreign ministry said the allegations were "preposterous" and "completely inaccurate". According to the Daily Mail, the plane was forced to manoeuvre away from a rocket as it flew into Sharm el-Sheikh, but Egypt's foreign ministry said the allegations were "completely inaccurate".
A spokesman said the incident involved ground-to-ground firing at a military base a few miles from Sharm-el Sheikh airport, and that no plane was in danger. A spokesman said the incident had involved ground-to-ground firing at a military base a few miles from Sharm-el Sheikh airport, and that no plane had been in danger.
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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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.
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.
Speaking on the BBC's Today programme aviation expert Alastair Rosenschein described the incident as "quite extraordinary". "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."
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." Speaking on the BBC's Today programme, aviation expert Alastair Rosenschein described the incident as "quite extraordinary".
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. 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.
Only eight of the 29 scheduled flights were able to depart on Friday, with the remaining 21 cancelled by the Egyptian authorities because of the build up of passengers and luggage. "It most certainly does not happen. I suspect that this is not the full story."
Britons are being allowed to travel home only with hand baggage; hold luggage is to be flown back separately. Meanwhile, the Department for Transport said nine flights had left Sharm el-Sheikh for the UK on Saturday, carrying 1,945 passengers.
A British government 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. These were:
Only eight of 29 scheduled flights were able to depart on Friday, carrying just over 1,400 passengers.
The remaining 21 flights were cancelled by the Egyptian authorities because of the build up of passengers and luggage.
Britons are being allowed to travel home with hand baggage only; hold luggage is to be flown back separately.
A UK government 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.
"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.""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."
Seven flights to the UK from Egypt on Saturday have now departed, with two more expected later. The government said it expected about 3,000 people to have come back by the end of the day.
The returning flights are:
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."
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.
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.
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