Russian Tourists Flown Home From Egypt

The latest on the crash of a Russian plane in Egypt that killed all 224 people onboard.
Russian Tourists Flown Home From Egypt
Vnukovo airport employees unload luggage from an Emergency Ministry plane at Vnukovo airport outside Moscow, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. The plane delivered luggage of tourists from the Egyptian resort of Sharm-El-Sheikh. Around 3 tons of luggage of tourists who departed with 5 flights before were reloaded by emergency ministry staff. AP Photo/Denis Tyrin
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MOSCOW—The latest on the crash of a Russian plane in Egypt that killed all 224 people onboard (all times local).

7:30 p.m.

Dozens of airliners are bringing Russian tourists back home from Egypt, carrying only cabin baggage, while Russian cargo planes were hauling back the rest of their luggage.

At least 26 flights from the Egyptian resort areas of Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada had landed at Moscow’s three airports as of Sunday evening. There was no overall figure for how many tourists had been brought home since the Friday announcement that Russia was suspending new passenger flights to Egypt because of security concerns.

The Emergencies Ministry said 55 flights were planned between late Saturday and late Sunday. It said the flights would leave from 13 different airports, implying the return trips would go to the originating point.

Lumbering airlifter planes such as Il-76s are bringing back heavier luggage. The planes belong to the emergencies and defense ministries and to a private cargo airline.

2:30 p.m.

Britain’s foreign secretary says airport security in many cities will need to be overhauled if it is confirmed the Russian plane crash in the Sinai was caused by a bomb planted by the Islamic State group or someone inspired by the militants.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned that if those suspicions are true, there needs to be a rethink of security at airports in areas where the extremist group is active.

He told the BBC Sunday that “may mean additional costs, it may mean additional delays at airports as people check in.”

U.S. and British officials suspect the Oct. 31 flight from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg was brought down by a bomb on board, but Egypt warns it is too early to say what caused the crash.

People look at an information board with flight arrival times in Domodedovo airport in Moscow, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. Russia has banned all flights to Egypt until aviation security procedures improve but was allowing special flights to bring Russian tourists back home from Sharm el-Sheikh. A Russian Airbus A321-200 crashed 23 minutes after takeoff from the resort on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people on board. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
People look at an information board with flight arrival times in Domodedovo airport in Moscow, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. Russia has banned all flights to Egypt until aviation security procedures improve but was allowing special flights to bring Russian tourists back home from Sharm el-Sheikh. A Russian Airbus A321-200 crashed 23 minutes after takeoff from the resort on Oct. 31, killing all 224 people on board. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko