COLOSSAL CRASH: All 224 onboard dead as Russian plane crashes in Egypt

It was operated by the small Russian airline Kogalymavia, based in western Siberia. Latest reports say it was carrying 217 passengers and seven crew.

Wreckage of the plane has been found in the Hassana area and bodies removed. An official described a "tragic scene".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an official investigation into the crash, and for rescue teams to be sent to the crash site.

A criminal case has also been opened against the airline, Kogalymavia, for "violation of rules of flight and preparation for them", Russia's Ria news agency reported.

The airline, based in western Siberia, operates under the name Metrojet.

One official said that at least 100 bodies had been found.

"I now see a tragic scene," the official said. "A lot of dead on the ground and many died whilst strapped to their seats."

The plane split in two, with one part burning up and the other crashing into a rock, he added.

The Russian aviation authority Rosaviatsiya said in a statement that flight KGL9268 left Sharm el-Sheikh at 06:51 Moscow time (03:51 GMT) and had been due into St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport at 12:10.

The authority added that the aircraft failed to make scheduled contact with Cyprus air traffic control 23 minutes after take-off and disappeared from the radar.

Egypt's civilian aviation ministry said the plane had been at an altitude of 9,500m (31,000ft) when it disappeared.

Live flight tracking service Flight Radar 24's Mikail Robertson confirmed the altitude.

He told the BBC that the plane started to drop very fast, losing 1,500m in one minute before coverage was lost.

An official investigating the crash quoted by al-Ahram newspaper said it was caused by a "technical failure".

Local weather observations in the vicinity of the rescue scene suggest relatively benign conditions.

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More updates to follow