Thousands of Russians in Egypt decided to defy security warnings and continue their vacations following the October 31 plane crash that killed 224 people traveling to Moscow.
“Nearly [Russian] 80,000 tourists are in Egypt. There will be no evacuation,” explained a spokeswoman for the Russian Union of the Tourism Industry.
Russia stopped all flights to Egypt after the crash. German airliner Lufthansa has also suspended flights to the Sinai Peninsula. Dutch airline KLM and the United Kingdom are permitting flights, but passengers may only bring carry-on luggage. Evidence continues to pile up pointing to a bomb from the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) potentially detonating mid-flight.
“Tourists will be returning from Egypt to Russia when they planned to. Most people left for two weeks — our usual holiday tour lasts two weeks — therefore they will return in about two weeks,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich.
Despite the security concerns, all tourists, not just Russians, want to finish their vacations.
Our governments have to protect us, it’s our right to enjoy Sharm El-Sheikh: Tourists – https://t.co/lykt53pFAO pic.twitter.com/fY5DjjTJQV
— Daily News Egypt (@DailyNewsEgypt) November 7, 2015
PHOTO GALLERY:#Russian tourists in Sharm el-Sheikh wave banner: ‘We are safe in #Egypt’ https://t.co/0oADEpAc5d pic.twitter.com/DMSz4IlnMW
— The Cairo Post (@TheCairoPost) November 9, 2015
Well booked in for another night courtesy of #thomascook. More sunshine, sea & swimming #sharmelsheikh pic.twitter.com/y9BCw5ASpT
— Dawn Wilkinson (@deltadawnski) November 9, 2015
Our beautiful #sharmelsheikh will be alive forever, if not by tourists, then by us, Egyptians. pic.twitter.com/BSlf2ZD6pn
— Dolce© (@DolcyEmara) November 8, 2015
#sharmelsheikh eat here. Food is great. Now Viva bar to enjoy beer good barmen and the @ChelseaFC match come on pic.twitter.com/0njqwzeYLX
— Rob Carron (@Robreferee) November 7, 2015
Tourists enjoy the sunny weather on a beach at #sharmelsheikh , Egypt, 07 November 2015. pic.twitter.com/IY2Dr05mZZ
— Cairo Live 24/7 (@Cairotoday) November 7, 2015
Easy jet advising passengers in #sharmelsheikh to expect a 3-4day delay…in the meantime: pic.twitter.com/9BCTfQxYd1
— Sherine Tadros (@SherineT) November 8, 2015
Still 'stranded' in #sharmelsheikh and loving it pic.twitter.com/NFOgZvtBHh
— Laura Bagnall (@penstemon22) November 7, 2015
#sharmelsheikh delayed but we're British and still enjoying the hospitality and sunshine. Sorry for those stranded pic.twitter.com/u9FAaFIuVR
— Rob Carron (@Robreferee) November 6, 2015
I can't think of a better place to be stranded than in Sharm el Sheikh. :-) @EgyptGreatEagle pic.twitter.com/MRCYkMBtnx
— ColorMeRed (@ColorMeRed) November 5, 2015
Even some Russians returning home have found ways to express support for their government, wearing T-shirts with the face of President Vladimir Putin on them in support.
Putin suspending flights to Egypt, but sending T-shirts. pic.twitter.com/V7wqglpw9Q
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) November 6, 2015
Dvorkovich said it would take two weeks to bring back the tourists. At least 25,000 people returned home over the weekend.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev did not tell the media when Russia would lift the ban on flights to Egypt. However, he does not believe the flights will “resume any time soon.”
The Emergency Situations Ministry is responsible for carrying home over 130 tons of luggage on cargo planes.
“A planned process to evacuate tourists will be executed,” said Oleg Safonov, head of Russian state tourism agency Rostourism. “Planes will arrive empty and be boarded by those tourists who should return home on that date.”

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