Emergency Situations Ministry says operation to take Russian tourists, their luggage out of Egypt complete
MOSCOW. Dec 4 (Interfax) - The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry and other federal agencies have completed the operation to take Russians and their luggage out of Egypt, the ministry has reported on its website.
"All tasks the headquarters was set have been fulfilled: all Russian tourists have returned from Egypt, their luggage has been delivered to Russia, delivery of personal luggage to the end recipients has been organized. Citizens have also been notified, issues associated with the airlines carrying passengers and their luggage have been resolved, including issues relating to the coordination of their work and interaction with tourist organizations," the report says.
The report says that over 80,000 people have been transported and almost 780 tonnes of personal belongings of tourists who had earlier left Egypt brought to Russia by 36 Russian Emergency Situations Ministry and Defense Ministry planes and planes belonging to the airline Volga-Dnepr since the suspension of flights to Egypt.
The remaining issues will be resolved using standard procedures. "Specifically, Russian Post should complete the delivery of large-size luggage to passengers in the nearest future," the press release says.
A Kogalymavia A321 aircraft en route from Sharm El-Sheikh to St. Petersburg crashed on October 31. The airliner crashed in the Sinai Peninsula 23 minutes after takeoff, killing 217 passengers and seven crewmembers.
A week later, on November 6, Russia banned air transportation services to Egypt. Tour operators and travel agents were recommended to suspend sales of tours to the country.
Later, Russian Federal Security Service director Alexander Bortnikov said that the airplane crashed as a result of the explosion of a bomb equivalent to one kilogram of TNT aboard the aircraft.