According to Egypt’s Cabinet, there were 216 passengers and seven crew aboard; Russian state media says the number of passengers is ‘above 220’

A Russian passenger plane with more than 200 people aboard has crashed in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, local Egyptian media quoting the Cabinet chaired by the Egyptian prime minister said.

According to the Cabinet statement, the plane carried 216 passengers and seven crew. Russian state media said the number of passengers was “above 220”.

The Egyptian Civil Aviation Ministry said that the plane lost contacts with air traffic control towers shortly after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. According to local media reports, the plane crashed in central Sinai.