Egyptian officials: Russian airliner carrying 224 passengers and crew has crashed in Sinai

Egyptian officials have confirmed a plane carrying 224 passengers and crew has crashed in Egypt.

Prime Minister Sharif Ismail says in a statement, a "Russian civilian plane ... crashed in the central Sinai."

The news comes after the Airbus A-321 jet reportedly lost contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff from the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, around 5:50am local time, according to a statement from Russian aviation official, Sergei Lzvolsky, in a statement to the Interfax news agency.

Russian tourists were reportedly among the passengers on flight 7K9268.

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