Egypt’s Civil Aviation Ministry said Monday it has found no obvious signs that an “illegal or terrorist act” brought down a Russian passenger jet in October, in sharp contrast to Moscow’s view of the tragedy.
Chief investigator Ayman el-Muqadam said his committee has not found “any evidence” to support foul play in the Oct. 31 downing of Metrojet Flight 9268, killing all 224 people on board – most of them Russians coming home from holiday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Not long after the crash over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Russia declared that a bomb was detonated on Flight 9268, causing the deadly crash.
And ISIS posted a picture — of a soft drink can, switch and detonator — that it claimed was the bomb that downed the plane.
Russia on Monday held firm to its conclusion that terrorists brought down the plane.
“I can remind you of the conclusion of our experts from the special services, who came to the conclusion that it was a terrorist action,” said Dmitry Peskov, a rep for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
US and British intelligence officials have said they share Russia’s belief that a bomb was set off on Flight 9268.
The Egyptian committee is “continuing its work,” investigators said.