Kogalymavia Flight 9268 facts for kids
EI-ETJ, the aircraft destroyed in the bombing, seen here in 2014 in a previous livery
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| Bombing summary | |
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| Date | 31 October 2015 |
| Summary | Terrorist bombing, under criminal investigation |
| Place | Near Housna, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt 30°10′9″N 34°10′22″E / 30.16917°N 34.17278°E |
| Passengers | 217 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 224 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | Airbus A321-231 |
| Airline/user | Kogalymavia (Metrojet) |
| Flew from | Sharm El Sheikh International Airport, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt |
| Flying to | Pulkovo Airport, Saint Petersburg, Russia |
Metrojet Flight 9268 was a special passenger flight run by a Russian airline called Metrojet. On October 31, 2015, an Airbus A321 airplane was flying from Sharm El Sheikh International Airport in Egypt to Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Sadly, the plane was destroyed by a bomb while it was flying over the northern Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
All 224 people on board, including 217 passengers and 7 crew members, died in the crash. Investigators believe that a bomb was placed on the plane at Sharm El Sheikh airport. The goal was likely to make airlines stop flying to that airport. After the crash, many flights to and from Sharm El Sheikh were indeed stopped. This left about 20,000 British tourists stuck in Egypt.
This event was the deadliest air disaster in Russian aviation history. It was also the worst air crash ever in Egypt. It was the deadliest accident involving an Airbus A321 plane, and also the deadliest for any plane from the Airbus A320 family.
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What Happened to Flight 9268?
The plane took off from Sharm El Sheikh at 6:13 AM local time. It was flying normally for a short while. Then, something terrible happened. The plane broke apart in the sky. This was later found to be because a bomb exploded on board.
The wreckage of the plane fell over a wide area in the Sinai Peninsula. Rescue teams quickly went to the crash site. They worked to find out what had happened to the aircraft and everyone on board.
Who Was Responsible?
Soon after the crash, a group called the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)'s Sinai Branch said they were responsible. This group is also known as ISIS. They claimed responsibility on social media and in statements. They even showed pictures of what they said was the bomb in their online magazine.
The Investigation Begins
Investigators from different countries worked together to find out why the plane crashed. By November 4, 2015, authorities from Britain and America thought a bomb might have caused the crash. On November 8, an Egyptian investigator said they were "90 percent sure" a bomb brought the plane down.
On November 17, Russia's Federal Security Service announced their findings. They were sure it was a terrorist attack. They said an improvised bomb exploded during the flight. This bomb had the power of about 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of TNT. Russian investigators found traces of explosive material, which was strong evidence.
On February 24, 2016, the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, also confirmed that terrorism caused the crash.
Images for kids
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The aircraft involved photographed in 2000 while in service with Middle East Airlines
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Last data received by Flightradar24.com
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People place flowers and children's toys on the Palace Square, Saint Petersburg, 4 November 2015
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on a meeting on the investigation of the crash
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See also
In Spanish: Vuelo 9268 de Metrojet para niños
