Russia: Putin instructs officials to access crash site - EMERCOM's Stepanov

Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) officials gave a briefing from Moscow, Saturday, regarding the crashed Russian Airbus A321 passenger plane of Kogalymavia airlines (who also operate under the name Metrojet). Vladimir Stepanov, Deputy Head of Emergencies Ministry, said that the Russian delegation sent to the site of the crash will be headed by the Minister of the Russian Emergencies Ministry Puchkov. He added that "North-West regional center has to organise a complex brigade with psychologists and an operative group with doctors", and that these works should be organised "round the clock". The plane, operating under the flight number 7K9268, is reported to have crashed in Sinai, Egypt, less than 30 minutes after taking off. There were a total of 224 people on board - 217 passengers, including 17 children, and seven crew members on board, with reports indicating that all but three passengers who are purportedly Ukrainian, were Russian. Authorities have set up a centre at Pulkovo International Airport in St. Petersburg, where the flight was scheduled to land at 12.10 local time (09.10 GMT) after departing the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheikh at 06.51 Moscow time (03.51 GMT).