The bodies of 144 of those killed in Saturday’s Russian airplane crash in Egypt have been flown back to the Russian City of St. Petersburg as investigation on the cause of the tragedy continues.
All 224 people that were on board the Airbus 32, most of whom were Russians, died when the plane came down over the northern Sinai Peninsula.
The plane was carrying 217 passengers (including 25 children) and 7 crew members.
Russian Air Transport Agency head Aleksandr Neradko has said that the airliner disintegrated at high altitude.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday led the country in observing a day of mourning in honour of the deceased.
The plane carrying the bodies touched own in St. Petersburg Pulkovo on Monday morning.
They were then transported to the city’s crematorium for their identification by relatives.
A second flight with more bodies is expected to arrive in St Petersburg in the evening.
The Russian government has pledged to compensate the families of the victims of the crash, and will also help organize funeral procedures.
See also; All passengers aboard Russian airliner killed in Sinai crash
Egypt Investigating the Cause of the Russian Airline Crash amidst Terrorism Claims
