Five years of the tragedy with the Russian plane in Egypt. Cairo has not yet officially recognized the incident as a terrorist attack

31

Five years ago, on October 31, 2015, in the sky over the Sinai Peninsula, a bright star lit up for a few moments and then went out. Seven crew members and 7 passengers of the Airbus A217-321 of the Kogalymavia airline, performing a charter flight 231K-7 Sharm el-Sheikh - St. Petersburg, have gone with her.

As it turned out later, they all became victims of an attack by terrorists of the "Islamic State" (prohibited in the Russian Federation), who in such a savage way avenged their military defeat from Russian soldiers. The youngest of those on board, Darina Gromova, was 10 months old ... This disaster became the largest aircraft accident for Egypt and the most massive death in the sky of Russian citizens. What has changed over the past time in relations between the two countries, in the investigation of a terrorist attack, as well as in ensuring the safety of our tourists?



Alas, no positive News on this issue is not available. Despite the rather long period that separates us from the tragedy, too much related to it stuck at a dead center (both for the relatives of the victims of the fatal flight, and in the issue of Russian-Egyptian cooperation in preventing a repetition of something like this). The Investigative Committee of Russia over and over again extends the time frame for the investigation of the criminal case opened in connection with the terrorist attack. In any case, the relatives of the victims, according to Irina Zakharova, head of the “Flight 9268” charity fund for their memory, receive the appropriate official notifications on a regular basis.

Everything rests on the position of the Egyptian side, which can hardly be called constructive. Until recently, Cairo refused to acknowledge what had happened as a terrorist attack, trying to blame everything on the "liner malfunction", which was not even in sight, and continued to deny the obvious even when ISIS fighters claimed responsibility for the plane's death, and their revelations were confirmed as the FSB Russia, and the intelligence services of the United States and Britain. Alas, today the Egyptian authorities continue to evade the real responsibility for the deaths of the Russians, which largely lies with them.

The fact that the country's president back in 2016 agreed that the plane was destroyed by terrorists does not mean that Cairo officially acknowledged this fact and, therefore, was ready to take responsibility for the fact that the tragedy became possible due to the extremely low level of security at the airport. Sharm El Sheikh. Currently, local courts are considering claims of 28 families of the victims. What are their chances of a fair decision? It's hard to say.

So far, the main punishment for Egypt has been the suspension of air traffic with it by Russia, which deprived local resorts of highly desirable tourists. Moscow's position on this issue was and remains extremely tough: not a single Russian aircraft will land at Egyptian airports as long as bedlam and permissiveness reign there. After all, there is no doubt that the terrorists who committed their dirty deed (according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, they were the militants of the Vilayat-Sinai group, which is the local “branch” of ISIS), was committed with the assistance of the airport's technical services.

Tellingly, the Egyptian authorities announced the fulfillment of "absolutely all requirements for increasing the level of security" in their own air gates less than a year after the tragedy. Subsequently, one of the high-ranking officials related to the local aviation industry, argued that all the necessary measures ("both visual and non-visual") to prevent new incidents were taken primarily due to the purchase of "a very large amount of the most modern equipment for screening passengers and their luggage."

Yes, according to the reviews of those who have recently visited the country, Egyptian airports have changed quite dramatically: the number of checks has increased and they have acquired the same "draconian" and total character as, say, in Europe. The technical side (from baggage scanners and security cameras to sophisticated electronic locks in all rooms) is really strengthened. However, the human factor continues to play its role.

Be that as it may, but the final visit of Russian aviation security inspectors, planned for February 2019, who had previously visited Egypt several times and made all new comments, never took place - "for technical reasons." So far, air traffic between the countries has been resumed only on the Moscow - Cairo line (in April 2018). The most recent information regarding when the first flights from Russia to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada will take place is the statement made the day before by the deputy head of the diplomatic department Oleg Syromolotov.

According to him, this is "a matter of the near future," however, it is still impossible to talk about any specific dates. At the same time, the Deputy Foreign Minister clarified that the main problem is still the issue of security, making a reservation that the joint work of both Russian and Egyptian specialists on this aspect "was not brought to completion due to the coronavirus pandemic." He also made it clear that a serious obstacle to the full resumption of flights is Cairo's stubborn unwillingness to complete the investigation of the terrorist attack and punish its perpetrators.

It is clear that even the most severe sentence to the murderers of our fellow citizens and their accomplices, both free and unwitting, will not return the dead and will not diminish the grief of their loved ones. However, it could become a guarantee that the tragedy that shook our country five years ago will not be repeated.
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

31 comment
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. +1
    1 November 2020 06: 57
    Five years of the tragedy with the Russian plane in Egypt. Cairo has not yet officially recognized the incident as a terrorist attack

    If this is not a terrorist attack on an aircraft, then what?

    Of course, official Cairo does not want to admit the obvious for a number of reasons, but at the same time, this position held back the resumption of flights of Russian airlines to the country for a long time ...
    1. +4
      1 November 2020 07: 37
      Quote: Insurgent
      Of course, official Cairo does not want to admit the obvious for a number of reasons.

      Well, you admit and you will have to pay compensation, and a LOT! Does Cairo need it?
      1. 0
        1 November 2020 08: 04
        Quote: Egoza
        Well, you admit and you will have to pay compensation, and a LOT! Does Cairo need it?


        Then let them count the NON-DIRECT losses from the inability for Russians to fly on vacation to Egypt as freely as it was before 2015.

        They will count, and cry ...
        1. +2
          1 November 2020 11: 49
          Then let them count NON-DIRECT losses

          They don't seem to know how to count.
  2. +19
    1 November 2020 07: 06
    7 crew members and 217 passengers have gone to eternity. The youngest of those on board, Darina Gromova, was 10 months old ...

    1. +7
      1 November 2020 18: 03
      The Kingdom of heaven!
      Let the Earth rest in peace to the LAMS OF GOD!
  3. +7
    1 November 2020 07: 28
    The destruction of the pressure bulkhead, the junction of the fuselage with the tail section. Presumably there have already been 4 such accidents with the A321. Due to the long fuselage during takeoff or landing, the tail touches the runway. This is an Airbus constructive jamb due to the lengthening of the fuselage to increase passenger capacity while maintaining the height of the landing gear. On November 16, 2001, this aircraft hit its tail while landing in Cairo and was repaired. How well the renovation was done is a question.
    One of the factors in favor of this version was that the tail at the crash site lay far from the main fuselage. No traces of explosives have been found officially. Although the head of the FSB, the very next day after the disaster, reported to the president about traces of explosives, which is very strange. Therefore, Egypt does not officially recognize the terrorist act, but has done a lot and enough to tighten the inspection regime. Other countries have not changed the mode of flights to Egypt.
    If the destruction of the pressure bulkhead is recognized as the cause of the catastrophe, then airbuses with an elongated fuselage will be banned for operation and the Anglo-French Airbus will incur huge losses.
    1. +24
      1 November 2020 07: 45
      Quote: Konnick
      Other countries have not changed the mode of flights to Egypt

      By the way, really, why only the Russian Federation requires increased security? Are the others immortals? Or are they not touched?
      1. +6
        1 November 2020 07: 47
        The strange thing is that when the commission was supposed to give a final conclusion on compliance, it was simply not sent to Egypt.
        1. +23
          1 November 2020 07: 49
          It is possible that the matter is really not clean. One thing is clear: someone is covering his ass.
      2. 0
        1 November 2020 09: 37
        By the way, really, why only the Russian Federation requires increased security? Are the others immortals? Or are they not touched?

        Think about it. How is Russia different from others?
        More precisely, than distinguished herself. wink
    2. -6
      2 November 2020 03: 09
      This is an Airbus constructive jamb due to the lengthening of the fuselage to increase passenger capacity while maintaining the height of the landing gear. On November 16, 2001, this aircraft hit its tail while landing in Cairo and was repaired. How well the renovation was done is a question.
      One of the factors in favor of this version was that the tail at the crash site lay far from the main fuselage.

      When you read something on the internet, turn on your brains a little. First, look at the relative position of the bulkhead and skin at tail_strike. Better yet, go to cook borscht.

      added
      The destruction of the pressure bulkhead, the junction of the fuselage with the tail

      Did you understand what you wrote?
      1. +4
        2 November 2020 05: 55
        Contact me for you. I am not familiar with you. The Tile Strike point is located, of course, not at the pressure bulkhead, but hitting this point of the tail section contributes to damage to the pressure bulkhead at the junction of the fuselage section and the tail section due to the strong bending moment from the load at the extreme point of the tail.
        1. 0
          2 November 2020 14: 19
          A small typo -tail strike, wrote as it sounds. Read more about this version here https://www.interfax.ru/world/477226
  4. -5
    1 November 2020 07: 33
    Egyptian carelessness and corruption are absolutely unprecedented, therefore they are not resistant to all kinds of troubles. To them only ride a camel.
    1. +13
      1 November 2020 07: 44
      You were there? If you compare Tunisia and Egypt, then this is comparing the earth and the sky. In Tunisia, there is virtually no inspection, but we fly there.
      1. -3
        1 November 2020 08: 05
        Because there are Muslim brothers and ISIS-like fights, the country has a very strong Islamist influence and this shit comes out there with enviable constancy. In Sinai, in fact, a war with these figures is going on, on YouTube I fully saw how the Egyptian military was being slaughtered there, army equipment was knocked out. As in Syria. Well, what kind of tourism is there? Do you want to go to Syria?
        1. +3
          1 November 2020 08: 11
          In Egypt, there were shootings of vacationers on the beach? And they were in Tunisia. Both in Egypt and in Tunisia there are checkpoints everywhere. And to fly to Syria, well, if only to visit old friends in Latakia.
          1. 0
            1 November 2020 09: 46
            It is much easier to perform amalia istishhadiya at the resort. This generally depends on the washed frame and the available weapons / explosives. If it were easier in France with weapons, then there would now be afraid to go out into the street. But again - due to the difficulty of acquiring (even illegal), local broads run around with knives, culinary picks and other commonly available cold weapons.

            Introducing a person for loading at the airport is a complex operation that requires the involvement of large forces and funds.
            1. +2
              1 November 2020 09: 55
              In Egypt, it is impossible for an outsider to get into a hotel without a firefight, if only a cuckoo goes to some waiter. But they are being seriously checked and if they are suspected of having links with Islamists, then goodbye to work. In hotels north of Sharm, Bedouins act as additional security guards. The outflow of tourists is also unprofitable for them, and the Islamists do not bother about the areas where the Bedouins live.
        2. +2
          1 November 2020 08: 25
          "on YouTube, I fully saw how the Egyptian military was being wiped out there, army equipment was knocked out. As in Syria.
          "


          I have not seen a single such video. Where did you get these videos? Looking specifically?
          1. -4
            1 November 2020 08: 36
            Quote: Konnick
            Where did you get these videos? Looking specifically?

            Here's an example for you this year, they took out a checkpoint.
            https://anna-news.info/boeviki-islamskogo-gosudarstva-razgromili-blokpost-egipetskoj-armii-na-sinae/
            1. 0
              1 November 2020 08: 43
              I did not see the video, so there are several incomprehensible photos. And how can you see videos on YouTube from ANNA -news, if they are blocked on YouTube.
      2. -3
        1 November 2020 08: 10
        Quote: Konnick
        In Tunisia, there is virtually no inspection, but we fly there.

        While there is no thunder ...
      3. 0
        1 November 2020 09: 42
        You were there? If you compare Tunisia and Egypt, then this is comparing the earth and the sky. In Tunisia, there is virtually no inspection, but we fly there.

        France is banking in Tunisia. And in Egypt - Great Britain.
        That is the point.
    2. -4
      1 November 2020 08: 08
      Quote: Bashkirkhan
      To them only ride a camel.

      I'm afraid the camel in its behavior is as unpredictable as the carelessness of the Egyptian authorities ...
  5. 0
    1 November 2020 08: 22
    "Indeed, there is no doubt that the terrorists who committed their dirty deed (according to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, they were the militants of the Vilayat-Sinai group, which is a local “branch” of ISIS), were committed with the assistance of the airport's technical services, there is no doubt [."
    [/ I]
    And what we already believe to the officials so that there is no need to investigate, do expert examinations. Appointed the culprit and that's it?
  6. +1
    1 November 2020 09: 49
    Quote: donavi49
    Introducing a person for loading at the airport is a complex operation that requires the involvement of large forces and funds.

    Not a single group took responsibility for Kogalym Avia.
    1. 0
      1 November 2020 10: 36
      Not a single group took responsibility for Kogalym Avia.

      Not surprising. If they were, then the performers.
  7. 0
    1 November 2020 11: 46
    And you don't need to rest either in Egypt or Turkey. And if "really necessary", then, of course, ...
    It is, of course, so. It is, of course, familiar. But if something happened somewhere, then here it is for you - and please.
  8. +2
    1 November 2020 17: 26
    If Cairo had recognized, it would still not have resurrected the dead.

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"