Airbus A321-231 – EI-ETJ

Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 31 October 2015

Aircraft Type: Airbus A321-231

Owner/operator: Metrojet

Registration Number: EI-ETJ

Location: ca 50 km SE of Hasna, North Sinai – ÿ Egypt

Phase of Flight: En route

Status: Destroyed, written off

Casualties: Fatalities: 224 / Occupants: 224

Component Affected: Aircraft Skin (particularly the forward fuselage and wings)Aircraft Skin (particularly the forward fuselage and wings)

Category: Unlawful Interference

On November 16, 2023, Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed in North Sinai, Egypt, resulting in the loss of all 224 passengers and crew. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, was traveling from Sharm el-Sheikh to the north along the Gulf of Aqaba, and its flight path was monitored via ADS-B. The flight data recorder abruptly stopped at 06:13:20, shortly before climbing to 30,888 feet, with an airspeed of 281 knots. Following this, Flightradar24 data indicated the aircraft was climbing to 30875 feet, but then experienced erratic altitude and speed indications, with a recorded last altitude of 27925 feet and a speed of 62 knots. Investigators believe the aircraft broke up in the air. The crash site revealed a significant debris field spanning over 13 kilometers, with a main impact zone primarily affecting the forward fuselage and wings. Engine placement was found away from the wreckage, and the tail section was also absent. Russian Federal Security Service confirmed a terrorist attack, stating that a homemade explosive device with a 1.5 kg TNT charge detonated during the flight. Analysis of the wreckage revealed high energy dynamic influence and internal overpressure, leading to rapid decompression. The incident was attributed to a terrorist attack.On November 16, 2023, Metrojet Flight 9268 crashed in North Sinai, Egypt, resulting in the loss of all 224 passengers and crew. The aircraft, an Airbus A321, was traveling from Sharm el-Sheikh to the north along the Gulf of Aqaba, and its flight path was monitored via ADS-B. The flight data recorder abruptly stopped at 06:13:20, shortly before climbing to 30,888 feet, with an airspeed of 281 knots. Following this, Flightradar24 data indicated the aircraft was climbing to 30875 feet, but then experienced erratic altitude and speed indications, with a recorded last altitude of 27925 feet and a speed of 62 knots. Investigators believe the aircraft broke up in the air. The crash site revealed a significant debris field spanning over 13 kilometers, with a main impact zone primarily affecting the forward fuselage and wings. Engine placement was found away from the wreckage, and the tail section was also absent. Russian Federal Security Service confirmed a terrorist attack, stating that a homemade explosive device with a 1.5 kg TNT charge detonated during the flight. Analysis of the wreckage revealed high energy dynamic influence and internal overpressure, leading to rapid decompression. The incident was attributed to a terrorist attack.

Description

Metrojet flight 9268, an Airbus A321, crashed in North Sinai, Egypt, following the in-flight detonation of an explosive device, killing all 224 occupants. Metrojet flight 9268 took off from Sharm el Sheikh at 05:50 hours local time (03:50 UTC). It followed airway R650 to the north along the shoreline of the Gulf of Aqaba. Overhead the Nuweibaa (NWB) NDB at FL210 the aircraft turned left, heading 340ø to cross the Sinai Peninsula. Last contact with the flight was about 06:13 hours. The Flight Data Recorder suddenly stopped at 06:13:20 hours while the aircraft was climbing through 30,888 ft altitude with the autopilot engaged. Airspeed recorded at that time was 281 knots. Based on logged ADS-B data, flight tracking website Flightradar24 shows the aircraft climbing to 30875 feet, after which it shows erratic altitudes and speed indications. Last altitude recorded was 27925 feet at a speed of 62 knots. Investigators reported that they believed the aircraft broke up in the air. Footage from the crash scene shows a main impact zone of the forward fuselage and wings. Engines were found away from the main wreckage, as was the tail section of the aircraft. The debris is scattered over a wide area more than 13 km in length. The Russian Federal Security Service stated on November 16 that the crash was caused by a terrorist attack. Traces of explosives were found in the wreckage of the plane. During the flight, a homemade device with the power of 1.5 kilograms of TNT was detonated. The Russian Interstate Aviation Committee reported that it was determined that the aircraft skin had undergone high energy dynamic influence (from inside to outside) and that internal overpressure caused an inflight rapid decompression.

Source of Information

http://www.civilaviation.gov.eg/News/news%20pages%20ar/messs_7_11_2_15.html, http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ei-etj/#7d986d3http://www.civilaviation.gov.eg/News/news%20pages%20ar/messs_7_11_2_15.html, http://www.flightradar24.com/data/airplanes/ei-etj/#7d986d3

Primary Cause

A terrorist attack involving the detonation of a homemade explosive device.A terrorist attack involving the detonation of a homemade explosive device.

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