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ICAO expresses condolences over Russian plane crash in Egypt

Russian Kogalymavia’s A321 plane, en route from Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, crashed on October 31 some 30 minutes after its takeoff

OTTAWA, November 4. /TASS/. The council president of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has expressed the agency’s deepest regret and sorrow for the families and friends of the victims of the Russian plane crash in Egypt.

"Any accident or incident resulting in loss of life is always a matter of utmost concern to ICAO and to the entire air transport community," Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu said in a statement posted on the organization’s website.

The statement notes that an Annex 13 (of the Chicago Convention) accident investigation into the loss of the plane "should be launched shortly."

"Eventually its Final Report will provide as much official information as possible on the causes of the event, as well as recommendations applicable to stakeholders who can aid in the mitigation of associated accident risks and causes in the future," President Aliu said.

Russian Kogalymavia’s A321 plane, en route from Egypt’s resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg, crashed on October 31 some 30 minutes after its takeoff. The debris was found 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of the administrative centre of North Sinai Governorate, the city of Al-Arish.

All 217 passengers and seven crewmembers were killed. Most passengers were Russian nationals. Among the people onboard were also four Ukrainian citizens and one Belarusian national.