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EgyptAir jet crash

Russia's FSB chief says terrorist attack may be behind EgyptAir flight crash

According to director of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov, the crash was "most likely" caused by a terrorist attack

© AP Photo/ Ahmet Akin Diler

MINSK, May 19. /TASS/. The EgyptAir Flight MS804 may have crashed as a result of a terrorist attack, director of Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Alexander Bortnikov said on Thursday.

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"Unfortunately, another incident with an aircraft of Egypt airlines took place today. It was most likely a terrorist attack that killed 66 people from 12 countries," Bortnikov said at the session of the Council of heads of security and special services of CIS member countries.

Bortnikov called on "all interested parties, including our partners in Europe, to take joint measures to identify persons involved in this terrible attack."

The EgyptAir A320 aircraft en route from Paris to Egypt vanished 10 miles into Egyptian airspace while flying at around 11,000 meters. The aircraft disappeared from radars at 2:45am local time (3:45am Moscow time), 20 minutes before it was due to land. French President Francois Holland confirmed earlier that the plane had crashed.

According to latest reports, there were 56 passengers and 10 crew onboard. According to the passenger list provided by EgyptAir, 15 French citizens and 30 Egyptians were onboard, along with citizens of UK, Belgium, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Chad, Portugal, Algeria, Canada.

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