Wreckage of the Russian plane has been found in the Hassana area. It disappeared from radar screens when travelling at 9,500m, Egyptian officials said, the BBC reports.

Egyptian officials said most on board are likely to have died.

The plane was operated by the small Russian airline Kogalymavia, based in western Siberia.

Russian authorities say it was carrying 217 passengers, 17 of them children, and seven crew. Most were Russian tourists.

Egypt rules out that the Russian plane could have been downed by militants operating in the Sinai Peninsula, Sky News Arabia reported on Saturday citing sources in security agencies.

presents the list of the passengers on board.