1st phase of examining Russian plane debris ends

The technical committee probing the crash of a Russian plane over North Sinai in December last year ended the first phase of studying the pieces of the plane wreckage in the presence of representatives of the countries concerned with the incident and Airbus company which manufactured the plane.

In a statement Monday, the committee said the second phase of the process, which will focus on studying the areas of the crash and the plane pieces, will start shortly to determine the cause the crash in the presence of metal experts.

The committee said the third phase will focus on taking samples from the areas in which the plane had crashed to be examined at the Central Metallurgical Research Institute to issue a report on the incident.

The Airbus A-321 crash happened after the plane left the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, bound for the Russian city of St Petersburg.

The wreckage was found in the Hasana area and bodies removed, along with the plane's "black box". 

Most of the passengers were Russian tourists flying home from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Source: MENA