Egypt confirmed on Saturday that a Russian passenger plan had crashed in central Sinai.
A statement from the prime minister’s office said Sherif Ismail had formed a cabinet level crisis committee to deal with the crash.
The jet carrying 224 passengers disappeared from radar screens in Cypriot airspace, Russia RIA news agency reported, citing a Russian aviation authority source.
The source said the aircraft was an Airbus A-321 jet, had 224 passengers and crew on board, and was operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia.
Initial reports suggested contact had been made with the passenger plane after it went missing but later Egyptian authorities confirmed the tragic news.