No survivors

Russian plane crashes in Egypt with 224 passengers:

Family members of Russian passengers believed to have been on board a plane that crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula arrived at Pulkovo airport in St. Petersburg on Saturday, following the official declaration of no survivors.

Most of the 224 passengers were Russian and included 17 children.

Meanwhile, the plane manufacturer said it would provide full technical assistance to the authorities investigating the crash.

Kogalymavia, the airline who owned the plane– which is also known as Metrojet – said there were “no grounds” to blame the incident on human error, Russian news agency Ria reported.

US officials have offered their condolences to Russia and the families of the crash victims. Secretary of State John Kerry said in a statement: “We don’t know any details about it, but obviously the initial reports represent tremendous tragedy and loss. We extend our condolences to the families and all those concerned.”He was speaking during a visit to the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan.AFP reported that 15 bodies have been transferred to a morgue in Cairo, at the time of going to press. -Agencies The Russian airline Kogalymavia’s Airbus A321 with a tail number of EI-ETJ on an airstrip of Moscow’s Domodedovo international airport -Marina Lystseva/ITAR-TASS Photo/Corbis