A Russian airline's Airbus KGL-9268 with 224 people on board has crashed in Central Sinai killing all its passengers and crew.

The plane was on its way to St. Petersburg and had just left the Red Sea resort of Sham el-Sheikh, according to BBC. The aircraft carried 224 people, including 200 adults, 17 children from 2 to 17 years old, and seven crewmembers. Most were tourists. The complete list of passengers' names has been published.

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The rubble from the crash including the plane's "black box" were located in the Hasana area. An official described the crash as tragic with the bodies of the passengers found still strapped on their seats.

Russian President Vladmir Putin has called for an official investigation into the crash. He has also dispatched search and rescue teams to the site. Putin declared November 1 a national day of mourning.

As per Russia's Ria news agency, the airline company Kogalymavia, also known as Metrojets, will be facing criminal charges for "violation of rules of flight and preparation for them."

Egyptian officials, who are at the scene, announced that there were no survivors. A help center has been set up at Pulkovo airport to assist relatives of the passengers.

At the time of writing, an official investigation is set to be spearheaded by both the Russian and Egyptian aviation agencies with the help of the European Aviation Safety Agency (as the bus is made in Europe) and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (as its engines were manufactured in the U.S.).

As per The Telegraph, "According to the pilots' online chatroom, Prune the pilot did report an engine malfunction. But at the same time pilots have also been warned of a potential terrorist threat."

Police have already invaded the offices of the airline in Moscow and were allegedly taking hold of their computers and documents. A spokeswoman for Kogalmavia said that the pilots are not to blamed and that the aircraft's pilot has more than 12000 hours of flying experience.

TagsRussian plane crash, Sinai, Russia, Egypt, Kogalymavia, Metrojet, plane crash