MOSCOW, November 3. /TASS/. The United States offered necessary assistance to Russia after the A321 jet crash over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told the Ekho Moskvy (Echo of Moscow) radio station on Tuesday.
"We have received such proposals through official channels from various countries, including Americans," she said.
Zakharova added that the interaction on rendering assistance by other countries was "a question that should be addressed to relevant agencies, since such interaction must be carried out at the expert level."
The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson thanked Egypt for comprehensive assistance to the work of the Russian agencies at the crash site. "We express our gratitude to Egypt, Egypt’s leadership, the people working with our experts, our diplomats," Zakharova said.
"Initially, in the first hours, we received assurances at all levels from the Egyptian side that they would provide all possible assistance to Russia in carrying out the investigation," the diplomat noted, adding that these statements were being implemented in practice.
Premature to put forward versions of A321 jet crash until investigation is completed
Zakharova also noted that it would be unwise to come up with any speculations regarding the passenger airliner crash over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula before the end of the official investigation. She said as much while commenting on media reports saying that the Islamic State group [outlawed in Russia] had claimed responsibility for the plane’s crash.
"It is just unwise to talk about a particular version, to confirm it or vice versa," Zakharova said.
"The tragedy occurred on the territory of another country, which has different legal framework. The information that is key to the investigation belongs to the Egyptian side," she said, adding that cooperation in investigating the crash was "conducted at the highest level."
An A321 passenger jet of Russia’s Kogalymavia air carrier (flight 9268) bound to St. Petersburg crashed on October 31 some 30 minutes after the takeoff from Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh. The plane was carrying 217 passengers and seven crew members. None of them survived.
The investigation into the plane crash is being investigated by the Egyptian authorities together with the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) and the Russian aviation agency, Rosaviatsiya. The Russian Investigative Committee is looking into all versions, including technical malfunctions.