In 2015, an Airbus plane, a European-made aircraft (not Russian as some claimed), disappeared. The plane was carrying 217 passengers, including 25 children and a crew of 7 members.
The Flight and the Explosion
The plane took off from Sharm El Sheikh Airport at 5:58 AM and headed to Saint Petersburg in Russia, about 600 kilometers north of Moscow.
At 6:20 AM, the plane disappeared from radar screens at 30,000 feet (about 9 kilometers). When Egyptian military aircraft scanned the area, they found the remains of the plane scattered over a circular area with a 15-kilometer diameter, indicating a massive explosion that destroyed the plane.
From the initial examination of the wreckage and the remains of the victims, it was clear that an explosion had occurred, but the exact cause was unknown. There were speculations that the blast might have been caused by a technical malfunction that led to the fuel tank catching fire, resulting in the plane's destruction.
Media Controversy and Initial Rumors
Some Egyptian news websites initially reported that the plane had not crashed and was still in Turkish airspace, but these reports were later retracted. The plane's route was known to pass through the Turkish capital, Ankara.
As the incident unfolded, international media focused heavily on Egypt, given that most of the victims were tourists, which increased pressure on the Egyptian authorities.
US Reports and ISIS Claims
The United States was the first to comment on the incident, announcing that they had detected a flash along the plane's path, indicating an in-flight fire. They believed this to be evidence of an internal explosion, possibly due to sabotage. However, they ruled out the possibility of a missile attack, as no missile had been detected.
In the evening, ISIS claimed responsibility for the incident, but they did not specify how the attack was carried out. Later, an old video circulated showing an ISIS member using an anti-aircraft weapon to shoot down a reconnaissance plane in Syria, with some claiming it was footage of the Russian plane being shot down.
Egyptian and Russian Reactions
Initially, both Egypt and Russia dismissed the idea of a terrorist attack, suggesting that the crash could have been due to a technical malfunction. Both countries were cautious in addressing this possibility to avoid straining their relations.
British Investigations and Diplomatic Tensions
The UK was the first country to announce, almost officially, that it had evidence that the plane was brought down by a bomb, but it did not disclose the details of this evidence. At the same time, the UK evacuated all its tourists from Sharm El Sheikh. It suspended flights to the area, causing a major uproar, especially since Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was visiting London then.
The Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation refused to allow tourists to leave without their luggage, as the evacuation planes only carried passengers. Still, after pressure, he eventually agreed to let the tourists go.
Impact on Tourism and the Economy
After the incident, Sharm El Sheikh Airport saw an unprecedented evacuation of tourists, with 124 flights conducted to return tourists to their home countries. Egypt's tourism sector was severely affected, relying heavily on Russian and British tourists. Despite efforts by the Egyptian government to revive tourism, fear of a repeat incident remained.
Black Box Investigations and Tensions Between Egypt and Russia
Preliminary findings from the black boxes indicated an unusual sound just before the crash, leading Russia to distance itself from joint investigations with Egypt and to issue independent statements confirming that the cause was a terrorist act.
Eventually, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian investigation committee confirmed the plane was destroyed by a homemade bomb, leading him to dismiss Russia's Deputy Defense Minister. He also announced a $50 million reward for information leading to the capture of those responsible for the bombing.
Rumors and Reactions
During the crisis, several rumors circulated, including:
- Some government supporters in Egypt claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind the incident in collusion with Turkey and Qatar.
- Another rumor suggested that the bomb was planted on the plane by a European country before it arrived in Egypt, with the help of the UK and the US.
- A third rumor claimed that Egyptian intelligence planted the bomb to entrap Turkey and Russia, but it detonated earlier than planned.
Conclusion
The incident caused Egypt a significant diplomatic and economic crisis, severely impacting its tourism and economy. It also raised many questions about Egypt's security challenges and revealed underlying tensions in international relations, particularly between Egypt and Russia.