The Islamic State group is claiming responsibility for bringing down the Russian Metrojet plane in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula '€” but it has have offered no evidence and is not known to have the capability to do so.

It is not clear what caused the plane crash Saturday morning that killed 224 people on the flight from Egypt to St. Petersburg. Egyptian officials say the pilot reported technical difficulties and wanted to make an emergency landing. The Metrojet crashed in an area where Egyptian forces have been battling an Islamic insurgency.

Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov has scoffed at the IS claim, telling the Interfax news agency that such reports "must not be considered reliable."

Militants in northern Sinai have not to date shot down any commercial airliners or fighter jets but there have been media reports that they have acquired Russian shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft missiles. These missiles, however, are only effective against low-flying aircraft or helicopters.

The airplane tracking site Flight Radar says current air traffic is operating normally over Egypt's restive Sinai Peninsula despite a deadly crash there earlier in the day.

Air traffic in and out of Sharm el-Sheikh was normal and a flight just took off Saturday afternoon heading to Moscow. The Egyptian resort city on the Sinai Peninsula is a favorite destination for Russian tourists.

A Russian Metrojet plane crashed Saturday morning in a mountainous region in the Sinai after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh, killing all 224 people aboard. Officials said the pilot had reported a technical problem and was looking to make an emergency landing before radio contact with air traffic controllers went dead.

Russian investigators are searching the Moscow offices of Metrojet, the company whose chartered plane has crashed in Egypt, killing all 224 people aboard.

Officers of Russia's top investigative body, the Investigative Committee, were also questioning Metrojet employees and doing the same at the St. Petersburg-based Brisco tour agency that had contracted for the flight from the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg.

Spokesman Vladimir Markin also said investigators are taking samples of fuel from the airport in Samara where the plane was last fueled.

The plane crashed Saturday morning in a mountainous region of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, 70 kilometers (44 miles) south of the city of el-Arish, where Egyptian security forces have for years been battling an Islamic militant insurgency.

Egypt's foreign minister has promised to work closely with Russian officials and experts to find the cause of the deadly plane crash in the Sinai Peninsula.

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry called his Russian counterpart to express his condolences for the victims and stressed his country's commitment "to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident, in full cooperation and coordination with the Russian side."

Egypt and Russia have grown closer diplomatically in recent months.

Officials say all 224 people on board the Airbus A321-200 were killed in the Saturday morning crash that came 23 minutes after the plane took off from the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. Those on board heading to St. Petersburg included 3 Ukrainians and 221 Russians. (bbn)

Popular

Indonesian paradox: When business strategy becomes a crime

The new KUHAP: A digital code with an analogue mindset

Indonesia’s bond market now driven by domestic policy, not global sentiment