A routine flight from a popular vacation destination turned tragic when a plane carrying 224 passengers, including families, crashed shortly after takeoff. The exact cause of the fatal incident remained a mystery for a decade until an aviation expert possibly uncovered the truth.
The ill-fated Metrojet Flight 9268 departed from Sharm el-Sheikh airport in Egypt bound for Russia on October 31, 2015, early in the morning. As the Airbus A321 climbed to 31,000 feet, a catastrophic explosion occurred, ripping the aircraft apart just 23 minutes into the flight.
The plane spiraled out of control and plummeted into the Sinai desert, claiming the lives of all onboard, which included 25 children, seven crew members, 212 Russians, four Ukrainians, and one Belarusian. Most passengers suffered fatal injuries due to sudden air pressure changes, making identification of victims challenging.
Initial investigations pointed towards terrorism as the likely cause of one of the deadliest plane crashes in history. Various theories emerged, including the possibility of a bomb onboard or technical malfunctions. Reports of pilot communication issues were disputed by Egyptian authorities, who dismissed claims of distress calls.
While ISIS claimed responsibility for the tragedy, Egyptian officials did not confirm it as a targeted attack. The incident was never officially declared as a terrorist act, leaving the true cause unresolved. Veteran aviation analyst Julian Bray now suggests that the crash resulted from a bomb explosion, possibly smuggled onto the plane in luggage.
Bray theorizes that the terrorists used TNT concealed in luggage, causing significant damage to the aircraft’s systems. The expert believes the explosive device could have been triggered by a mobile phone or timing mechanism, leading to the catastrophic mid-air explosion.
The incident, shrouded in mystery and tragedy, remains a haunting reminder of the dangers that can lurk in the skies.
