Egypt Says There's "No Evidence" to Indicate the Bombed Russian Plane Was Bombed
Egypt today denied the prevailing theory that the Russian plane crash was caused by a bomb, saying an investigation revealed no evidence of “illegitimate interference or an act of terrorism.”
The “vaguely-worded statement” was reportedly the result of a preliminary state investigation into the October explosion over the Sinai province that left 224 people dead.
Last month Russia, citing black box data and fuselage analysis, concluded the crash had been caused by an “improvised explosive device” weighing about 2.2 pounds. ISIS later claimed responsibility, saying an operative had smuggled a bomb onboard inside a can of Schweppes pineapple soda.
Even so, Egypt’s chief investigator, Ayman el-Muqadam, said Monday his team was unable to confirm the plane was bombed—a conclusion that would likely further depress Egypt’s already-depressed tourism industry.
