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Egypt plane crash: Dutch operator deemed Sharm unsafe in 2014 Egypt plane crash: Dutch operator deemed Sharm unsafe in 2014
(about 2 hours later)
Dutch tour operator Corendon has said it stopped offering holidays in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt in early 2014 after receiving intelligence information. Dutch tour operator Corendon has said it stopped offering holidays in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt in early 2014 after a warning about security threats.
A spokeswoman said it had no longer seen the Red Sea resort as a "carefree and safe holiday destination".A spokeswoman said it had no longer seen the Red Sea resort as a "carefree and safe holiday destination".
All 224 people on a Russian Airbus 321 were killed when it crashed shortly after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh. All 224 people on a Russian airliner flying from the resort to Russia were killed when it crashed on 31 October.
Other airlines began suspending flights last week amid fears that the plane had been bombed by Sinai militants.Other airlines began suspending flights last week amid fears that the plane had been bombed by Sinai militants.
Sinai Province, a group affiliated to Islamic State, has repeatedly claimed it brought down Metrojet Flight 9268, flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to the Russian city of St Petersburg on 31 October. Most of the victims were Russians.Sinai Province, a group affiliated to Islamic State, has repeatedly claimed it brought down Metrojet Flight 9268, flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to the Russian city of St Petersburg on 31 October. Most of the victims were Russians.
Egypt has launched its own investigation into the growing belief among Western officials that a bomb was placed on the airliner.Egypt has launched its own investigation into the growing belief among Western officials that a bomb was placed on the airliner.
UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it was "more likely than not" caused by an explosive. And Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also acknowledged that "the possibility of an act of terror is of course there".UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it was "more likely than not" caused by an explosive. And Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev also acknowledged that "the possibility of an act of terror is of course there".
The UK is among several countries to have halted flights to and from the resort due to intelligence concerns - stranding thousands of holidaymakers.The UK is among several countries to have halted flights to and from the resort due to intelligence concerns - stranding thousands of holidaymakers.
Travel advice 'Threat to air traffic'
A spokeswoman for Corendon Dutch Airlines said on Tuesday that the company had received information from "a network of different sources", which includes "the intelligence services and the ministry of foreign affairs". The decision by Corendon Dutch Airlines to halt flights appears to refer to updated travel advice issued by the Dutch ministry of foreign affairs in February 2014, which said: "All travel to the Sinai is inadvisable.
"Based on this information, we make the consideration whether the respective destination is still the carefree and safe holiday destination that we want to offer to our customers," she said. "The violence in Sinai has escalated in recent months and there is a real threat of terrorist attacks.
"In early 2014 we decided that this was no longer valid for Sharm el-Sheikh." "Dutch people now staying in Sharm el-Sheikh or any of the other resorts are advised to leave the area and contact their tour company."
Dutch intelligence services have declined to comment on the alleged security concerns last year. The warning came days after four people died in a bomb attack on a tourist bus travelling from St Catherine's monastery in the Sinai peninsula. Militants from Sinai Province, known at the time as Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, claimed responsibility.
In its statement, the Dutch government advised travellers to speak to their airline or tour operator about routes planned "because of a terrorist threat to air traffic that uses the airspace over the Sinai".
A spokeswoman for Corendon Dutch Airlines said on Tuesday that the firm used intelligence information at the time to determine whether Sharm el-Sheikh was "still the carefree and safe holiday destination that we want to offer to our customers".
"In early 2014 we decided that this was no longer valid for Sharm el-Sheikh," she said.
Other Dutch travel companies were still flying to Sharm el-Sheikh until the Dutch foreign ministry changed its travel advice last week.Other Dutch travel companies were still flying to Sharm el-Sheikh until the Dutch foreign ministry changed its travel advice last week.
Corendon reportedly became the only Dutch airline to halt holidays to the Egyptian destinations of Hurghada and Marsa Alam following the advice. A Dutch spokeswoman for Thomas Cook told the BBC that it had received no information from the intelligence services regarding safety concerns before the Sinai plane crash.
Meanwhile Corendon reportedly became the only Dutch airline to halt holidays to the Egyptian destinations of Hurghada and Marsa Alam following the latest advice.
In a statement, the airline said the "decisive factor" for this decision was the extra luggage checks introduced after the crash.In a statement, the airline said the "decisive factor" for this decision was the extra luggage checks introduced after the crash.
More on Metrojet crashMore on Metrojet crash
Extra security checks on the way?Extra security checks on the way?
In search for answers, British ties to Egypt take a hitIn search for answers, British ties to Egypt take a hit
Airport security rethink 'may be needed'Airport security rethink 'may be needed'
Could Islamic State have bombed Flight 9268?Could Islamic State have bombed Flight 9268?
What we know about the Sinai crashWhat we know about the Sinai crash
A Dutch spokeswoman for Thomas Cook told the BBC that it had received no information from the intelligence services regarding safety concerns at the resort until last week.
She added that it would be highly unlikely for the security services to alert only one of the Netherlands' four tour operators flying to Sharm el-Sheikh.
On Monday, an Egyptian official told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner that the country's intelligence service was looking into every possibility of how someone could have placed a bomb inside the luggage compartment of the plane.On Monday, an Egyptian official told BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner that the country's intelligence service was looking into every possibility of how someone could have placed a bomb inside the luggage compartment of the plane.
An Egyptian member of the international team investigating the crash last week told Reuters that they were "90% sure" that a sound heard in the last moments of the recording of the plane's cockpit voice recorder was an explosion caused by a bomb.An Egyptian member of the international team investigating the crash last week told Reuters that they were "90% sure" that a sound heard in the last moments of the recording of the plane's cockpit voice recorder was an explosion caused by a bomb.
The plane is believed to have broken up in mid-air.The plane is believed to have broken up in mid-air.
Sinai Province militantsSinai Province militants
Sinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous militant groupSinai Province: Egypt's most dangerous militant group
Guide to Sinai's active militant groupsGuide to Sinai's active militant groups
How is a plane crash investigated?How is a plane crash investigated?