MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Egyptian authorities are considering a terrorist act as one of the main reasons in their investigations into the Russian A321 passenger plane that crashed over the Sinai Peninsula on October 31, killing all 224 people on board, Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Mohamed el-Badri said.
“We have taken into consideration what has been announced by Russia in this instance. We are reviewing such a factor [terrorist act] among the main reasons in our investigation. But, nonetheless, we in Egypt prefer to refrain from premature conclusions,” el-Badri told RIA Novosti in an interview.
“The process of investigating an air catastrophe is a long and multilateral investigation that includes many aspects from medical expertise to studying the wreckage of the aircraft by aviation specialists. This all takes time,” the ambassador said.
“We need to recreate the entire picture of what happened and we will spend as much time as needed,” he added.
Cairo also hopes air traffic between Russia and Egypt will be reinstated by the end of January 2016, Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Mohamed el-Badri said.
The ambassador said that an intergovernmental committee between Russia and Egypt is planned for January 31 to discuss many topics and hopes that flights would be renewed before then.
“I hope that by the time the committee on aviation flights between Russia and Egypt meets, [flights] will be renewed. And this will be a reason to discuss a more intense tourist exchange,” el-Badri told RIA Novosti in an interview.
Russia canceled all flight to Egypt following the crash of an A321 passenger plane over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, killing all 224 on board.
Egypt has received approval from Russia to resume cargo air service between the countries to provide imports of Egyptian goods, Egyptian Ambassador said.
All air traffic between the countries has been suspended due to security concerns following the October 31 crash of a Russian-operated Airbus A321 over the Sinai Peninsula.
"We have already established our own routes to Novorossiysk and St. Petersburg. We have received permission to organize flights of cargo aircraft," Badri told RIA Novosti in an interview.
The resumption of air traffic comes after Russia banned several Turkish food and agriculture imports following Ankara’s decision to shoot down a Russian frontline bomber over Syria on November 24, which lead to the death of a pilot.
The ambassador added that Cairo is ready to use all its capabilities to meet the needs of the Russian market, including various fruits and vegetables.
