Sinai Head Invites Families of Russian A321 Victims for Memorial Services

CAIRO (Sputnik) – Authorities from Egypt’s South Sinai province have invited the families of the victims of the Russian A321 passenger jet that was blown up over the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, killing all 224 on board, to Sharm el-Sheikh for memorial services, Egypt’s CBC Extra television reported Thursday.

According to CBC Extra, the province’s governor, Haled Foda, will pay for all of the families’ expenses.

On October 31, a plane operated by the Russian Kogalymavia airline crashed in the Sinai Peninsula en route from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. The tragedy is the largest civil aviation disaster in Russian history.

Shortly after the crash, Moscow and Cairo reached an understanding on the investigation, and an international Egypt-led probe was launched. The investigative committee comprises Egypt, Russia and France, assisted by Ireland and Germany.

On Tuesday, the official investigation into the crash concluded the airplane was downed as a result of a terrorist act. Russian President Vladimir Putin said during an official meeting on the investigation's conclusions the country would track down and punish those responsible.