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US Can Only Assist in Technical Aspect of A321 Crash Probe - Egypt Minister

Russian Aviaton » Friday November 13, 2015 17:47 MSK

US experts who expressed willingness to assist in the Egypt-led investigation of the Russian plane crash in the Sinai Peninsula, can participate in the technical aspects of the inquiry only, according to Friday comments by Egypt's minister of civil aviation.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry told CNN in an interview on Tuesday that his country had accepted an offer from the US National Transportation Safety Board to participate in the investigation as the engines of the Airbus A321 aircraft were produced in the United States.

"In accordance with the international rules of the investigation of such incidents, the state, where the aircraft engine was produced, may be involved in the investigation. Given that the engine of the Russian aircraft was manufactured by a US company, the Americans can participate through the National Transportation Safety if they demand it. This is only for the technical side of the investigation," Mohamed Hossam Kamal told the Al Ahram news portal.

On Tuesday, FBI public affairs officer Joshua Campbell told Sputnik the US intelligence agency had offered assistance to Egypt and Russia in the investigation into the A321 crash tragedy.

If the United States insists that the FBI should be involved in the probe, the Egypt-led investigation will not permit it, as Washington has "no right" for this, he stressed.

On October 31, the Airbus A321 passenger plane operated by Russian airline Kogalymavia carrying 224 people, crashed in the Sinai Peninsula en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg. All people on board died in the biggest disaster in the history of Russian civil aviation.

Shortly after the crash, Moscow and Cairo reached an understanding on the investigation; and an international Egypt-led probe was launched. The investigative committee comprises Egypt, Russia and France, assisted by Ireland and Germany.