Egyptian Mechanic Behind Russian Plane Crash? Metrojet Flight May Have Been Brought Down By EgyptAir Staffer Whose Cousin Had Joined ISIS

An Egyptian mechanic might have been responsible for crashing the Russian plane operated by Metrojet. An EgyptAir staffer, whose cousin had joined the ISIS in Syria, is suspected of planting a bomb on the Russian passenger plane, which blew up over Egypt last year, killing everyone on board.

A mechanic working for EgyptAir is believed to have planted an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) aboard the Russian Metrojet passenger plane, which crashed shortly after takeoff. The plane was seen breaking off with a fiery trail over the Sinai desert in Egypt in October 2015. The tragedy resulted in the death of 224 passengers and crew members on board.

Authorities strongly suspect it was the EgyptAir mechanic who sneaked a bomb on the plane. Egypt still insists that it has found no evidence that the MetroJet flight, which crashed in the Sinai Peninsula after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh airport, killing all 224 people on board, was brought down by terrorism. The insistence comes amidst mounting claims that the plane was brought down by a miniature IED that was carefully concealed in a soda can. Numerous reports have indicated the soda can, that contained a plastic explosive which was just enough to damage a flying plane, as well as a remote detonator, was placed in the passenger cabin.

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— The New York Times (@nytimes) November 19, 2015

Despite the claims, sources familiar with the ongoing investigation who wished to remain anonymous, owing to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation, have confirmed that the Egyptian mechanic has been detained because authorities believe it was this person, who was approached by ISIS after learning about his cousin,

“After learning that one of its members had a relative that worked at the airport, Islamic State delivered a bomb in a handbag to that person. The suspect’s cousin [had] joined Islamic State in Syria a year and a half ago. He was told to not ask any questions and get the bomb on the plane.”

With ever-increasing security, it is nearly impossible for a single person, acting alone, to plant a bomb. The sources added that along with the mechanic, two airport policemen as well as an airport baggage handler have been taken into custody. Apparently, authorities believe these people helped the mechanic to place the bomb onboard the Metrojet passenger plane, reported the Deccan Chronicle,

“Two policemen are suspected of playing a role by turning a blind eye to the operation at a security checkpoint. But there is a possibility that they were just not doing their jobs properly.”

According to Reuters, none of the four have been prosecuted so far.

Shortly after the incident, the ISIS had claimed responsibility for downing the Metrojet plane. Back then, none of the countries involved were ready to accept that the terror organization could have brought down the plane. While many experts questioned the technical ability of ISIS, many others pointed out that Islamic State simply couldn’t possess surface-to-air missiles that could have targeted the plane.

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Rockets that can lock onto and take out a fast-moving target high up in the air need a good deal of technology, which the rather primitive ISIS simply couldn’t possess or procure, claimed experts. However, with the recent revelations about the “laboratories” of the terror organization, it has become painfully clear that ISIS is well on its way to making some bombs and other explosives that can not only take out a target, but can also be disguised as human beings to evade detection.

It is evident that Egypt doesn’t wish to acknowledge that the Russian plane crash was, in all likelihood, an act of terrorism. The country recently confirmed that it has lost hundreds of millions of dollars since the Metrojet crash, which crippled the country’s vital tourism industry, reported Times of Israel.

[Photo by Alaa El Kassas / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images]