News

Egypt Holds Candlelight Vigil on Anniversary of Russian Plane Crash

Egypt Holds Candlelight Vigil on Anniversary of Russian Plane Crash

Russian Ambassador to Egypt Sergei Kerbachenko, center, marches with Egypt's government members holding candles at Peace Square during ceremony on Sunday to mark first anniversary of Russian MetroJet plane crash near Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (Reuters)
Russian Ambassador to Egypt Sergei Kerbachenko, center, marches with Egypt’s government members holding candles at Peace Square during ceremony on Sunday to mark first anniversary of Russian MetroJet plane crash near Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (Reuters)

Egypt’s Ministry of Civil Aviation held a candlelight vigil at the Sharm El Sheikh airport to commemorate the victims of the Russian passenger plane that was downed over Sinai last year.

Civil aviation minister Sherif Fathy attended the vigil alongside Russia’s ambassador to Egypt, Sergei Kerbachenko.

Fathy expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and all those affected by the crash, while Kerbachenko said the “sadness is ongoing and will never go away.”

Egypt’s ambassador to Russia, Mohamed El Badry, also expressed his condolences on the anniversary of the crash.

“On the anniversary of the big tragedy, I would like to present my condolences to all Russians and to the families of the victims and tell them that their loss is not forgotten and it will not be forgotten by the Egyptian people and by the Egyptian government,” El Badry told Russian news outlet Sputnik.

On October 31, 2015, a Russian plane carrying 224 people crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all individuals on board. ISIS affiliate Wilayat Sinai claimed responsibility for downing the plane, saying it was in retaliation for Russia’s airstrikes in Syria.

Following the crash, Russia suspended all flights to and from Egypt over security concerns, with the United States, Britain and a number of other countries following suit. Most countries have yet to restore flights to Egypt but Russia has been inspecting security procedures at Egypt’s airports on a regular basis.

The downing of the plane has spelled disaster for Egypt’s already weakened tourism industry, which was once the cornerstone of the Egyptian economy and a major earner of foreign currency.

In March of this year – just four months after the downing of the plane – Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail said that Egypt’s tourism revenues dropped by as much as USD 1.3 billion as a result of the crash.

Roughly four million Egyptians work in the tourism sector, which accounts for 12.6 percent of the country’s total employment and about 12 percent of the economy.

'Egypt is Safe': UN World Tourism Organization Meeting Opens in Luxor
Egypt Moves Up Four Spots in Gender Gap Index

Subscribe to our newsletter


News

More in News

Egyptian Prime Minister Welcomes Palestinian Delegation to Discuss Areas of Cooperation

Nadia Salem30 May 2023

Sisi Congratulates Erdogan on Election Win, Egypt and Turkey to Restore Diplomatic Ties

Farah Rafik30 May 2023

Egypt’s Al Ahly Basketball Team Clinch African Championship

Shereif Barakat28 May 2023

Egypt’s Wrestling Federation Under Investigation Following Young Wrestler’s Escape to France

Shereif Barakat27 May 2023

Egypt Delaying Wheat Payments, but Supply Ongoing as Sellers “Trust” Authority

Omar Auf27 May 2023

Entertainment Activities in Egypt Facing New Tax Measures

Egyptian Streets25 May 2023

Egyptian Fashion Designer Sara Onsi Honored at Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit

Farah Sadek25 May 2023

Egypt Divided Over Silver-Medal Winning Wrestler Who Fled to France

Shereif Barakat24 May 2023